Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Maple Leafs analyst Sam McKee was furious after Mitch Marner‘s comments towards Toronto fans and decided to put the Vegas forward on blast in a recent interview.The comments from Mitch Marner regarding the negativity he found from Maple Leafs fans during his last season with the Maple Leafs have fans up in arms. Basically blaming the Leafs faithful for making him feel unwelcome and downright unsafe at times, he decided enough was enough.
It was a stunning confession from the Vegas forward, and he is clearly focused on life after Toronto.
But it didn’t sit well with everyone. Among the fan outrage, one in particular stood out and it was a familiar face to Maple Leafs fans.
Analyst’s Heated Rant Puts Mitch Marner Back in the Spotlight
Analyst Sam McKee, who works alongside Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne on the Real Kyper & Bourne Show was given the platform to speak his mind, and wasn’t shy about laying into Marner for what he perceived as a one-way street, and Marner needs to wake up:
As a guy chronically online, with a millionth of the following; people say mean things every day. But to continually talk about this, to continually bring it up without ever looking in the mirror is infuriating and we’re still doing it!
When it’s a high-profile situation and you’re asking Ryan Reaves and Max Pacioretty; his TEAMMATES about Vegas, in the year the Maple Leafs have the best chance to win the Cup and then come out and perform like that; of course people are going to be pissed, what did you expect?!
You never committed. The first contract changed you into a villain and showd us your true colors and continually blaming the fans, never taking accountability.
The only time you did was in your AI-generated farewell message. It’s justI don’t understand how this continues to be a one way street. It’s always our fault, it’s never his and he can’t get it through his head.
Why Sam McKee’s Criticism Strikes a Chord in Toronto
Holy smokes, Sam tell ’em how you really feel. But honestly, it echoes a lot of the sentiment found in Leafs fans who are often the target of heavy criticism for how they deal with their stars.
McKee also mentioned that it isn’t exclusively a Toronto problem, so Marner’s point gets docked validity:
Every big team deals with this, with fans, the pressure. It’s not an excuse, and you continually blame the fans.
The Leafs faithful did try and side with Marner in the comments on YouTube, however a few were less than privy to take his stance:
I’m so sick of multi millionaires doing the poor me thing! He didn’t show up at all whenever we needed him in the playoffs, he makes $12 million a year, and when we wanted to trade him mid season he turned it down! He’s a whiny baby made of excuses! – @mixinitup2031
I’m not even a leafs fan I’m an oilers fan but guy just sounds like he’s made of excuses. – @UnhingedCanadian
One fan does bring up an interesting point too that does lead to some questions:
My question is why he was the only 1 centered out with this type of harassment? Strange! – @daltonduckett
You can tell that fans are understanding that Marner did have some negative stuff around him and while it’s never, ever an excuse to delve into someone’s family life so deeply; his lack of accountability strikes a heavy chord.
All fans wanted was Mitch to say “I wasn’t good enough, I didn’t play my part,” and we never got that. It was always the fans problem, it was his teammates, it was the coaches, it was never the one who actually took the ice.
So perhaps Toronto is better off long-term without Marner, because now it looks like they have players who want to be here regardless of the fan attention.
Previously on HockeyPatrol
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Analyst Sounds Off with Blunt Take on Mitch Marner: ‘It Was Always Our Fault, Never His’
Does Mitch Marner deserve the negativity from Toronto fans?