“That is a Direct Shot” at Maple Leafs: Marner’s Comments Creating Buzz

Mitch Marner spoke after the Vegas Golden Knights came back to win Game 3 versus the Colorado Avalanche and wasted no time propping up his current teammates while throwing shade at his old team. When asked about the Golden Knights’ remarkable comeback, he said, “We have an older group that just stays patient and stays calm. We don’t turn on each other, we don’t get mad at each other.”

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Marner was a member of many Maple Leafs teams that seemed to turn on each other when things got ugly. He was often on the receiving end of the comments from his teammates, including one viral video where William Nylander said, ‘grow up bro, this isn’t junior hockey comment’ after an issue on the bench showed that Nylander and Auston Matthew had grown tired of Marner’s complaining.

The lack of playoff success was a huge issue in Toronto, and while Marner has proved during these playoffs that all he needed was a change of environment, the different teammates are something he seems eager to highlight. He’s clearly happier, which comes with winning. But Marner also seems relieved to be out of what he hints was a hostile environment where he took a lot of heat, not just from fans and the media, but also from his own teammates.

He’s not wrong, either. While Marner did his own share of complaining and moaning as a member of the Leafs, one could argue that’s the environment created in Toronto. This is a group that has been accused of not taking accountability. They’re quick to bicker and claw at each other in a way to shift blame when there is plenty to go around.

In the case of Nylander, many would argue he needs to grow up and Marner was not the issue. Just this past season, Nylander was called out for his antics, including flipping the bird to a camera on live television while in the press box. He’s been accused of not trying or creating issues in practices, and his media availabilities can be troubling for all the wrong reasons.

Matthews, meanwhile, has been questioned about his leadership ability. It became a talking point after Team USA won the Gold Medal at the Olympics and the Hughes brothers pointed it out in their press conference, saying Matthews winning as Team USA captain should put those storylines to bed. They didn’t.

Is Marner right? Are the Maple Leafs creating their own troubles through their infighting and locker-room/bench squabbles? And, did Marner have every right to subtly call them out?

Next: William Nylander Makes His Desire to Stay in Toronto Clear