Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Heated rival Brad Marchand has pushed back on critics as the Toronto Maple Leafs stumble early, blending his usual edge with a firm belief in their playoff path.
The Maple Leafs have opened the season with uneven defensive results, and after compiling a record of 11-11-3, the noise grew fast as the mistakes have been piling up.
The Leafs have received some support from a very unlikely source as Florida Panthers star and longtime Bruins forward Brad Marchand has heard it all and is dismissing the doom talk in Toronto quickly.
Marchand reminded fans on Monday that early standings rarely hold, pointing to how often the Leafs find their game by December. His tone surprised some observers who expected the usual rivalry bite.
Marchand instead defended the group, praising their scoring depth and their ability to tilt shot attempts on any given night.
Brad Marchand backs Toronto Maple Leafs
Typically more of an antagonist, Marchand took more of an analytical approach to discussing the Leafs’ current state of affairs, pointing out that while they’re in the Atlantic Division’s basement, they’re only a couple of wins away from being back in a playoff spot. He then added the following:
“With the media attention and the fan support they have in Toronto, things get blown way out of proportion up there… If people are thinking they’re out of a playoff spot for the season, they gotta find a new job.”
The quote hit hard because it came from someone who has built a career making life miserable for Toronto in big moments. His respect for their roster balance carries weight.
As an analyst and fan, I admit it felt strange hearing him deliver what sounded like a pep talk, yet the logic holds. Toronto owns too much top-end talent to drift far below the line for long, and their expected goal share still trends upward. We saw that in their 7-2 win over Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on the weekend.
While Marchand has been a thorn in the Leafs’ side for years, he is also reasonable person who has defended the club from the relentless market pressure on more than just this occasion. All that’s left now is for the Leafs to prove him right.
Previously on Toronto Hockey Daily