Before Mitch Marner held what many believe was his final press conference as a Toronto Maple Leaf, cleaning out his locker and preparing for a summer of uncertainty, he did something unexpected.
He publicly thanked a reporter for removing a tweet posted after Game 7.
Responses to that now-deleted tweet, which questioned Marner`s commitment to remaining a Leaf beyond 2025-26, were far from positive. Social media can be harsh even in good times, so the level of nastiness following another Game 7 loss was significant.
At least one fan response, posted anonymously, crossed a line into threatening and harassing behaviour.
As Marner approaches unrestricted free agency, he must weigh standard factors like salary, contract length, signing bonuses, championship potential, taxes, coaching, and role. However, as a new father, he also needs to consider the environment of raising his young family in a city where his accessibility and polarizing status are so pronounced.
Athletes accept scrutiny as part of the job. But how has the intense focus on Marner, as a hometown star, affected his family?
“It`s tough on them,” Marner said Tuesday. “What my wife (Stephanie) and I have done a good job at over the last couple years is just not focusing on that. You can`t focus on that. There`s so much love and appreciation for yourself and from the fans out there. And just because you don`t hear it, you know it`s still out there.
“Sometimes the noise you hear is not the one that you want. But that`s how it goes. And I`m sure my family`s taking it hard, especially being in the crowd for a couple [lost home playoff games]. But that`s how this game of hockey goes, and the passion the city brings is something that you appreciate and love about it.”
