Leave it to Mitch Marner to find a way to put his foot in his mouth on locker room clean out day. After the Maple Leafs season ended Saturday against the Boston Bruins, the team returned to Toronto to clean out their lockers for the final time this season. This marked the team's final media availability and the last opportunity for media to speak to members of the team.
While it is true that Toronto sports players are held on a higher plane, this is truly not the time or the place for this comment. After a disappointing playoffs once again, the Leafs find themselves on the outside looking in with more questions than answers. For one of their own to share this after another playoff exit surely shows the inability to read the room.
Since the season ended, Marner's name has already appeared in trade rumors and it really feels as if both the Leafs and Marner need a fresh start. Not even PR training is enough to convince most people that Marner should return for a 9th season. Not even PR training is enough to convince most people that Marner should return for a 9th season.