Mitch Marner decided it was time to leave the Toronto Maple Leafs and begin a new chapter with the Golden Knights. Now, a report by Chris Johnston explains when the breaking point between both sides may have occurred.
The insider noted that the moment everything started to change was during the playoffs two seasons ago, when Marner was blamed for a crushing loss against the Florida Panthers in five games.
“I think it was two years ago and it has nothing to do with Brad Treliving in terms of timing. I think that was just the year. Another series where Mitch Marner didn’t put a lot of points. Took a lot of criticism. I remember one particular interview between Game 3 and Game 4 in Florida where he was so dismissive of sort of the criticism. I think it was just piling up at that point.”
Why is Mitch Marner leaving the Leafs?
Mitch Marner left the Leafs because he believes the Golden Knights give him a better chance to win the Stanley Cup. Additionally, in a press conference, the star admitted that his family played a key role in his decision to change cities.
Johnston agrees in his report with what Marner said, noting that after becoming a father, his priorities changed, and that shift coincided with growing criticism in Toronto, the city where he lived.
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“The split up here on one hand it’s the team and the player, but it’s really the city, the fanbase and maybe the media in some degree. For Mitch, it was becoming less and less comfortable to live in Toronto full-time and being a Maple Leaf around that point in time. He was becoming less enamored with his life as a Leaf. Obviously, his performance created some of that too. I’m not saying he’s completely a victim here, but, it was a hard life. So, that was about Year 7 where I’m identifying the point where I think it was uncomfortable.”
