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Mitch Marner blames media and fans for current narrative in Toronto

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Ryan Smitheram
January 17, 2024 (9:54)

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Mitch Marner showing off his reverse retro 2.0 jersey at last year's All-Star Skills Competition

Photo credit: NHL

Three regulation losses in a row and four in total by the Toronto Maple Leafs over the last week have Leaf fans and the Toronto media frustrated and reeling. They're debating who to trade and who to fire if the season is lost and anything else you can think of.

Following their loss to the Edmonton Oilers yesterday, Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe was asked if he noticed any frustration amongst the players.

"I don't. Today, I felt really good about our bench and really good about our team. Again, you give up the late one, and that one really hurts. That has been a trend, right? We have been in tie games and have given one up late. We iced the puck. We had exhausted people out there. That stings after playing such a hard game. I don't sense frustration in particular after this one. The guys knew the challenge we were up against tonight. They know they played a game that very easily could've gone the other way."

Leafs forward Mitch Marner echoed his coach's thoughts and called out the media for trying to create it. Maybe there's a little frustration there after all.

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"A lot of people on the outside are trying to do that. It's how it goes for us. We know we're doing the right things. We got to ignore what everyone else says. We know we're a great hockey team. We show up every night. I mean, this last four games that we've had leads, we've played some awesome hockey, some great hockey."

Marner didn't seem too pleased with the question, nor did he seem to respond well to the fact that the media and fans are criticizing him and his team for a lack of execution of late.

The fact of the matter is that this isn't the first time this team has gone through this issue this season and in recent seasons. This core has been able to right the ship before, but it remains to be seen whether or not this current group can identify the problems and fix them before they're fighting for their playoff lives.

The Leafs will look to snap the skid Thursday in Calgary when they take on GM Brad Treliving's old team.

Previously on MapleLeafsDaily

Sheldon Keefe gets into it with the media over a question he didn't like

Former NHL coach prepares Leafs fans for the worst with this year's team

John Tavares responds to being benched by Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe

POLL
17 JANVIER \| 1149 ANSWERS Mitch Marner blames media and fans for current narrative in Toronto Are you frustrated with the Leafs?
Since as long as I can remember	509	44.3 %
Nah, I'm used to it at this point	187	16.3 %
I'm frustrated because they're better than this	453	39.4 %
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