It's been tough sledding in recent weeks if you're a Maple Leafs fan. Yes, they had put together a very positive run on their California road trip at the beginning of the month, but after having lost 7 of their last 11 games, the Leafs are in a bad spot right now, slipping all the way down to a Wild Card spot in the playoff race with half a season to go.
Thanks to their disappointing 4-2 loss in Edmonton on Tuesday and the Detroit Red Wings winning on Wednesday, the Wings have moved into the top 3 in the Atlantic Division, pushing the Leafs down into the Wild Card picture. Following their loss to the Oilers, Mitch Marner refused to admit that the Leafs are not executing right now, instead affirming that he believes they're playing awesome hockey, despite having lost 4 straight.
Naturally, fans aren't very keen on his comments. Rather than showing any sort of accountability, Marner suggested that the media and fans are to blame for any negativity surrounding the team right now, not the team's current losing skid and sloppy late-game play. As a result, fans are turning on him once again, some actually suggesting that the Leafs should get rid of the perennial 90+ point player.
Jokes aside, this is a tough spot for the Leafs to be in. They can't trade any of the core 4 without their agreement to waive their NMC's, so like it or not, this group will remain together for at least this season and next before a culture shift is even possible. Unless, of course, Mitch Marner or John Tavares comes to Brad Treliving with a trade request, which I don't see happening.
