Mitch Marner ’s relationship with the Toronto Maple Leafs appears to be nearing a dramatic and bitter end. After a Game 7 loss to the Florida Panthers, Marner said that while he has ‘always enjoyed’ playing in Toronto, he isn’t ready to think about his impending free agency. That said, all signs point to Marner being gone.
Following another brutal second-round playoff exit—this time in a Game 7 collapse that saw the Leafs lose 6-1 to the Panthers and surrender three unanswered goals—Marner exploded at his bench, screaming at teammates in a desperate attempt to spark life into a team that looked anything but alive. Whether it was a genuine attempt to rally the group à la Connor McDavid’s fiery intermission speech in last year’s Stanley Cup Final or a last-ditch venting of pure frustration, one thing is clear: Marner has lost the room—and the city.
Maple Leafs Fans Have Turned on Marner
During the game, it was like the babyface in a WWE wrestling match being forced to turn heel halfway through. Leafs fans turned on their hometown star with venom. Marner was loudly booed every time he touched the puck. A beer was reportedly thrown at the bench. A fan even tossed a jersey that Marner had to sidestep during a shift change. The message from the crowd was loud: they’re done with him.
And maybe Marner is done with Toronto, too.
The 27-year-old winger, who refused to waive his no-movement clause ahead of the deadline when the Leafs explored a trade involving Mikko Rantanen, has become a lightning rod for criticism. Rantanen now has eight goals in six playoff games with Dallas. Marner, meanwhile, has just seven total playoff goals since signing his lucrative extension in 2019.
Marner’s Game 7 stats are terrible, and on Sunday night, as he was screaming at his teammates, fans could only point out how little he was personally doing to change his team’s fortunes. It was almost a ‘do what I say, not what I do’ situation. His emotional outburst on the bench may have been an attempt to show leadership, but many saw it as hollow, given his own disappearing act when the stakes were highest.
It Only Makes Sense That Marner Is Leaving
With unrestricted free agency looming and no meaningful playoff success to justify another major contract, the Leafs are at a crossroads. They risk losing Marner for nothing—an outcome that would not only sting but could cement him as one of the most vilified stars in team history
The “Core Four” era is on life support, and when asked about it, Marner avoided answering questions related to its future. Auston Matthews called out the team’s effort, saying there were “too many passengers,” and Marner agreed that was the right wording for what occurred as the Leafs were sent home, yet again.
Management can no longer ignore the signs, and the easiest thing to do is let Marner sign for way too much money somewhere else. The Leafs could use that freed-up cap space to find the player who could be a difference-maker when the games matter most.
Whether Marner walks this summer or is traded before free agency, it’s clear: the bridges in Toronto are burning. The tough part is trying to figure out who is holding the match.
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