Marner opens up about threats at his family after final Toronto Maple Leafs game
It turns out that more might have been going on in Mitch Marner’s final few days with the Toronto Maple Leafs than the general public knew about.
In an extensive interview with TSN’s Mark Masters discussing his sign-and-trade to the Vegas Golden Knights, Marner opened up about the fears he faced about his family’s safety following the Leafs’ elimination from the playoffs at the hands of the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
“[I was] devastated at [being eliminated], and the thought of it also being my last Maple Leafs game at home. And then I get a phone call, probably five minutes after, I think it was my wife’s father, called me and goes, ‘I just want to let you know we’ve got people sending us screenshots of a guy posting our address online, saying that if people want to say their ‘goodbyes’ here’s the address.’”
Marner had spent his whole professional career with the Leafs since being taken fourth overall in the 2015 draft, putting up 741 points in the process.
“We kinda dealt with it for the last two years, in a way. The market’s very passionate. They love their team. I know it, I was born and raised there. I’ve been a part of Leafs Nation for a long time. But, when your family’s safety comes into question, especially having a new son, I don’t think it’s acceptable,” Marner added. “Having full-time security two weeks after the playoffs to make sure no one’s coming to the house.”
Marner and the Golden Knights face off against the Leafs in Vegas on Jan. 15 of next year, before they come to Toronto a little over a week later on Jan. 23 for his first game back since the move.
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