Could Mitch Marner join Nazem Kadri in the Stanley Cup-winning ex-Leafs club?

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There are certainly more former Maple Leafs in the salary-cap era who’ve won the Stanley Cup — or been to the final — than there are title banners on Bay Street.

Among those who had an awkward exit but later lifted the trophy, Nazem Kadri had the most memorable quote.

While in Toronto, his recklessness in the name of sticking up for teammates or sending foes a message each spring eventually resulted in a trade.

“For everyone who thought I was a liability in playoffs, you can kiss my ass,” the 2022 champion shouted as his Colorado Avalanche celebrated.

Amid an NHL-worst 58-year drought, lack of success has been particularly hard to swallow for Leafs Nation loyalists who fawned over, then fell out with, several stars.

Four years before Kadri, Phil Kessel celebrated his second Cup in Pittsburgh after relations soured with the team and fans, followed in 2019 by the highly regarded Tyler Bozak with the Blues and Kessel again with a small role for Vegas in ‘23.

Since 2021, Zach Hyman has done everything but win it after the beloved home-towner priced himself out of the Leafs budget. He moved from left wing with Auston Matthews to Connor McDavid’s flank in Edmonton, where he scored 50 and helped the Oilers to two Stanley Cup finals.

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Now the concern is whether winger Mitch Marner will haunt the franchise. The fifth-highest scorer in franchise history preferred a deal sending him to the Golden Knights over an extended contract in Toronto, where his lack of playoff production has been under relentless scrutiny.

“It was his time to move on,” Kadri said of his ex-teammate during a chat with the Toronto Sun ahead of the Hockey Diversity Alliance’s SummerFest event, taking place this Saturday. “Maybe every player needs that fresh start.

“Mitchy played a lot of good hockey here, a dynamic player to watch with the puck on his stick. Fans should be proud of what he did.

“I want him, all of them, to do well, but not because of (trying to prove fans wrong). It’s because you’ve been in the trenches with them, how all that brought you together. We’re still good buddies. I just mentioned to him to watch out because now we’re in the same (Pacific) division.”

Kadri revealed he was at a couple of the Toronto-Florida Panthers second-round playoff games. The Leafs have not made it to the third round of the playoffs since 2002.

“Sure, I was cheering for them as I always do, but they faced a really great team. I have lot of friends who are still big Leafs fans and I’ve tried to watch them on TV, too.”

Now 34 years old and about to play his 1,000th regular-season game — potentially in November — Kadri continues to contribute, leading Calgary with 35 goals last season, though the Flames missed the playoffs.

It’s a reason why some Leafs fans still keep a torch burning for Kadri, especially when general manager Brad Treliving talked of improving the DNA after a rather meek exit to the meaner Panthers.

A possible reunion became topical around the time Marner left in July, but Kadri has tried to pump the brakes. He has a seven-year, $49-million US deal that does not expire until 2028-29, though it was signed when Treliving was GM of the Flames.

At present, the Leafs have two set centres in Auston Matthews and John Tavares along with the incoming Nicolas Roy.

“That (rumour) certainly picked up momentum,” Kadri said with a laugh. “Everyone knows my connection with Tree and his family.

“But Calgary is a great city and I certainly enjoy it for the time being. No one knows what the future holds.”

lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby