Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman Reporting it Wasn’t Just Fans Who Were Sick of the Mitch Marner Saga

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner celebrating a goal being scored.

Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro – Imagn Images

While the Mitch Marner, Maple Leafs saga was irritating the fans, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman has reported that the players were feeling it as well.

The Mitch Marner saga, which started at the trade deadline and stretched all the way to July 1st, certainly left the fan base feeling drained and even annoyed. The constant mention of the disgruntled forward ran it’s course with Leafs Nation, but most of the strain began felt by the fan base was felt after the trade deadline.

There were rumours that the Maple Leafs were interested in bringing Mikko Rantanen into the fold, but the only way that they could have acquired his services would have been through a trade involving either Marner or Matthew Knies.In the end, nothing came about as Rantanen was shipped to Dallas and Marner remained in Toronto. However, it soon came out that Marner blocked a deal to Carolina, which brought more media attention to the club, leaving even the players frustrated, as reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

It certainly didn’t get any easier with every step that Marner took (or didn’t take), especially in the playoffs, being painted with a sharper brush. Once they were eliminated and their off-season began, it was Marner-central until the day he was moved to Vegas.

The situation was definitely unique and all eyes were fixated on Marner for months on end. With Toronto being the hockey hot bed that it is, that didn’t help the cause either, which ultimately had an effect on the rest of the team.

Fortunately for Marner and the Maple Leafs, they found a happy medium this off-season, which can finally put a pin in that chapter of Leafs hockey and look forward to what’s to come.

While the Maple Leafs are still searching for his replacement, there should be a different feel to this year’s team — one that will require a lot of the supporting cast, who will have to step up their game with the increased opportunity.

Previously on MapleLeafsDaily

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