‘He’s not wearing it for 72 hours’

Sid Seixeiro believes playing in Vegas has freed up Mitch Marner mentally: ‘He’s not wearing it for 72 hours’

The next order of business, and arguably the most important piece remaining of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ offseason, is to figure out who their head coach is going to be heading into the 2026-27 season.

On Monday, Sid Seixeiro from The Sid Seixeiro Show joined Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill to discuss where he feels the Maple Leafs are at in terms of their coaching search, where he stands on David Carle, and why he believes Mitch Marner is having more success during his first playoff run with the Vegas Golden Knights.

“Things have kind of gone quiet in the Leafs’ search over the past week. It got to the point where every time you woke up, there was something from [Frank] Seravelli, [David] Pagnotta, [Elliotte Friedman] Friedge or [Chris Johnston] CJ,” Seixeiro said. “We had a nugget to chew on, but it’s gone quiet, which some people are speculating the Leafs know exactly who they want.”

The one name who has generated buzz in the coaching pursuit has been the University of Denver’s head coach, David Carle. Carle is a three-time NCAA champion and a two-time World Junior champion and has been a hot name in coaching circles over the past few offseasons as someone who could bring his success to the NHL level.

Last week, Sportsnet’s Friedman reported that the Maple Leafs and Carle held preliminary discussions to gauge any interest Carle might have in taking the role in Toronto. While it’s been quiet since, Carle would be a name that would draw a lot of excitement from many who root for the Maple Leafs’ organization.

“I’m here for David Carle. Now, at the end of the day, if it’s just a money thing with David Carle, that’s a problem. You can stay in Denver, do your thing there, but someone has to want this,” Seixeiro said. “There needs to be a coach who comes into this market that didn’t have to be convinced to come to this market. I’m not saying that’s worked in the past, but a lot of egotistical and talented people haven’t worked in the past. I’m here for change, doing things differently, and kind of re-writing this.”

One storyline that has filled Toronto’s media over the course of the 2025-26 Stanley Cup playoffs has been the success that Marner is having. The former Maple Leaf leads the postseason in points with 21 and is one win away from reaching his first career Stanley Cup Final. Marner has looked like a totally different player from his years in Toronto, something Seixeiro believes stems from his new home.

“I think psychologically, the biggest thing is he’s at peace when he walks through the door after a home game, and I don’t think you can put a price on that,” Seixeiro said. “When you put on that suit, you don’t take it with you, and I think that’s what we saw here, especially being a Southern Ontario kid. Despite the fact they are a deeper team that drafts better, I think the other thing is he is lighter once he gets in the car. He’s not wearing it for 72 hours.”

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