After yet another disappointing playoff showing by the Toronto Maple Leafs, chatter about Mitch Marner’s future with the team is really heating up — and it’s definitely resonating with those connected to the organization. So, in 11 games, he’s managed to get 2 goals, 10 assists, and a total of 12 points. That’s definitely not enough, especially if you’re someone like Marner.
On the Real Kyper & Bourne hockey podcast, former NHL player Nick Kypreos really let his frustration show during a heated discussion. He pointed out that the uncertainty around Marner’s contract and his commitment to staying in Toronto has been a distraction for quite some time, even before the team faced that Game 6 elimination threat against the Florida Panthers.
“Organizations have gone through this. The bed was made a long time ago. Okay. With the Leafs and [Mitch] Marner, I’m playing it out. I’m not coming back. Well, what’s going on behind the scenes? Do you want to stay here? Do you not want to stay here? Is it money? Is it not money? Like all of this is they’ve been, this is going on since September. Sammy, you can’t just bring it into game six and then be able to snap your fingers and go, Oh, wait a minute. You playing your contract. That was an issue going into game six,” the former Stanley Cup champion said.
Kypreos mentioned that this story didn’t just pop up during the playoffs; it’s been brewing since September, and now it’s coming back at the worst time possible. He mentioned that Marner’s uncertain future — whether it’s about money, wanting a change, or some internal issues — might have subtly influenced his performance and the team’s overall concentration. Sam McKee also chimed in, saying, “I mean, he got asked after the game last night, if it was going to be his final home game, like it’s a story.”
Credits: Instagram/Mitch Marner
This really got people talking. Things got pretty tense after Marner was asked in the post-game if that could have been his last home game in a Maple Leafs jersey. Even though he responded thoughtfully and with care, that moment really highlighted just how real the rumors have gotten. Kypreos pointed out that you can’t just ignore the contract situation during the playoffs, especially in a hockey town like Toronto, where the spotlight is always on and pretty tough.
At the end of the day, Marner is already into unrestricted free agency, and with a possible cap hit around $11 million, Toronto has some big decisions to make about whether they can—or even should—keep him around for the long haul. Did you know that Marner wasn’t the only one getting criticized for his performance?
Mitch Marner’s teammate is also facing the same problem
Yes, the teammate we’re talking about is actually Auston Matthews, the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Similar to Marner, his performance hasn’t really impressed either. So far, in 11 games, he’s managed to score just 2 goals, along with 8 assists, bringing his total to 10 points. He’s not doing great for a forward like Matthews.
He has responded to the criticism by saying, “I mean, I think everybody’s got to look in the mirror, like I said. You know, myself included. Everybody wants to be better. Everybody wants to obviously win. And, you know, we’ve been a great road team all season long. You know, there’s always going to be belief in this group and a confidence in this group from what we built off throughout the year. So we’ve got to go into this game with confidence, and it’s got to be our best game of the year.”
Matthews believes that everyone on the team ought to take responsibility for their performance and acknowledge where they might be lacking. He’s tackling the criticism head-on that, as the leader of the team, he hasn’t really made a significant impact during this series. He really takes that responsibility to heart, placing himself right alongside his teammates in that thoughtful mindset. Matthews really emphasizes how important it is to believe and stay resilient. He’s reminding everyone about Toronto’s great history and getting the team pumped up as they gear up for this big Game 6.
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