Rivalries are what make sports great. One heated rivalry in the NHL is the Battle of Ontario between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Senators and Maple Leafs have met each other five times in the playoffs, but all five results were the same with the Maple Leafs winning the series.
2025 was the most recent playoff meeting with the Maple Leafs winning the series in six games. However, there was one chant from Sens fans directed toward one player on the Maple Leafs, and it turns out the fans were right.
Fans chanted "Marner's leaving during playoffs." Insider confirms Marner is done in Toronto
When the Maple Leafs played in Ottawa during the 2025 playoffs, Sens fans chanted "Marner's leaving" due to Maple Leafs superstar forward Mitch Marner being an unrestricted free agent this Summer.
While some can view it as a mockery or as a way to just getting inside Toronto's head during the playoffs, NHL insider Andy Strickland confirmed that Marner will not be returning to Toronto and will play for a new team in the 2025-26 season.
Can confirm Mitch Marner will not be returning to Toronto. Will be playing for a new team come next season. #LeafsForever
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) June 13, 2025
Marner moving on from Toronto can shake up the entire Maple Leafs organization and impact the Senators. The Senators can improve their team big in free agency and have a chance to jump the Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division.
Marner has been projected to make over $14 million this Summer. However, playoff struggles have been a huge staple of Marner's career in Toronto.
Sens fans will always make fun of the Maple Leafs and one way was chanting that Marner will leave Toronto. Now, the Sens fans were right and saw the future a while back during the playoffs.