Maple Leafs Winger Mitch Marner Called Out Over Controversial Comments After Tough Loss
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Mitch Marner came under fire for his comments about the Leafs' effort Saturday and a trio of reporters called him out on Monday for his inability to 'read the room'.
Craig Berube and defenseman Chris Tanev were not happy with the Leafs' effort on Saturday, but Mitch Marner thought the team had a good effort, despite not generating anything offensively.
Marner's comments following a 3-0 on home ice sparked outrage on social media and made a former NHL head coach unhappy for undermining Berube.
On Monday's episode of 'Real Kyper and Bourne', Justin Bourne, Nick Kypreos and Sam McKee discussed Marner's comments. Although they did agree with parts of his comments the consensus was that he should not have made them after Berube and Tanev didn't like the effort level of the Leafs.
"I think the question in terms of Luke saying the effort level and him (Marner) saying he liked it, got taken a little out of context on Twitter when you read it versus when you hear it -- but saying 'I thought we played well', I probably wouldn't agree with that," said McKee. "The one thing with this market and the Mitch Marner relationship is it never really works out well when he talks to the media and this has always been an issue with him... He says the worst stuff. "
Kypreos agreed with McKee in that the relationship between Marner, Leafs fans and the media has always been contentious and noted that the former first-round pick has difficulty reading the room and understanding what to say and when to say it. That being said, Kypreos put some blame on the Leafs for not conveying a message to him about what others said prior to his media availability.
"Above and beyond anyone else on the club, this is just a continuation of the relationship between the fan base and Mitch Marner... First of all, I don't think he was aware of other comments. You have to think, if someone got to him and said, 'listen this is what Chris Tanev said', just seconds before, I'm not sure he would have said that. He believes what he said and you lose 3-0 on a signature game like that, people don't want to hear it... He has difficulty reading the room."
In agreeance with Kypreos about not being able to read the room, Bourne agreed with Marner about the team not playing terribly.
"You can't say that. You have to have some awareness of the frustration of everyone... I looked through some stats, I watched some videos, and they weren't that bad, but it's not the time. Everyone wanted more from you, and you didn't give it to them. So you just kind of have to go 'we didn't have it tonight' or whatever. It's not a fundamental moral failing of Mitch Marner, but you just can't say that."
With all the scrutiny Marner has faced the past couple of days, along with having a new linemate on Tuesday, it wouldn't come as a surprise for him to have one of his best games of the season against the Dallas Stars.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 14 | 1803 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Winger Mitch Marner Called Out Over Controversial Comments After Tough Loss Do you think Marner's comments were blown out of proportion? | ||
| Yes, the audio sounds different than social media | 885 | 49.1 % |
| No, the effort was not there at all | 918 | 50.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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