Player Discussion Official Former Leafs Thread

[Steve Yzerlland]

He perpetually had the yips. He put the puck over the glass for an unforced penalty like three years in a row. I dont think he did that once in the regular season over 9 years.

I swear people think Leafs fans just decided one day to dislike him for no reason

I didn't know all these details wow. He clearly got over that. Crazy. Thanks. I don't follow the leafs just a loose observer that didnt have all the context that's why I asked.

 

[francis246]

and you know, when normal people who aren't happy, would just ask for a trade , or like you said, give him a change to go win it was like. 'no no, i like it here." like honestly, i just want the cup to be rewarded, let people be LOL Toronto like usual, and we can just move on.

You can't really compare the situations. Marner had full control he was a UFA. He didn't need to request a trade because he was going to have his pick at the end of the season anyways.

Larkin HAS NO OTHER CHOICE but to ask for a trade to get out. He's locked up with another what? 5 years? He's f***ed and will be miserable if he doesn't out. He's not asking out to help Detroit. He's asking out because it's his only option to move on from Detroit.

 

[francis246]

They invented some story about him getting more blame than other players when he didn't, and then he got some death threats on social media which the media ran with and milked it for everything it was worth and it just kept snowballing and snowballing.

The never ending victim.

Marner got the most blame, that part isn't made up. But he did absolutely milk the rest of the stuff. That can't be denied. But he was blamed the most from 2020 up until he left.

 

[hfman]

guys just admit it.

They were supposed to get rid of Matthews, not Marner. Many of us said it from day 1. And tonight gives you the proof... and there's more to come. There is simply no comparing the two of them.



The whole Marner situation is probably the biggest f-up in Leafs history

 

[Divine]

guys just admit it.

They were supposed to get rid of Matthews, not Marner. Many of us said it from day 1. And now you have your proof. There is simply no comparing the two of them.



The whole Marner situation is probably the biggest f-up in Leafs history

Marner wouldn’t stay even if you traded Matthews.

Marner wanted a small market, Toronto was never going to be that.

 

[TheRumble]

You can't really compare the situations. Marner had full control he was a UFA. He didn't need to request a trade because he was going to have his pick at the end of the season anyways.

Larkin HAS NO OTHER CHOICE but to ask for a trade to get out. He's locked up with another what? 5 years? He's f***ed and will be miserable if he doesn't out. He's not asking out to help Detroit. He's asking out because it's his only option to move on from Detroit.

You definitely can.

Larkin scored 1 even strength goal in all of 2026. 1.

Justin Holl scrored as many.

Justin Faulk, the Red Wings trade deadline acquistion scored 5 for Detroit.

Larkin then comes out and demands a trade and gaslights the entire league into thinking Detroit was the problem.

 

[hfman]

Marner wouldn’t stay even if you traded Matthews.

Marner wanted a small market, Toronto was never going to be that.

NHL has given them a chance to somewhat repair/distract this situation by gifting them McKenna.


Don't f- this one up too

 

[ACC1224]

guys just admit it.

They were supposed to get rid of Matthews, not Marner. Many of us said it from day 1. And tonight gives you the proof... and there's more to come. There is simply no comparing the two of them.



The whole Marner situation is probably the biggest f-up in Leafs history

it was never desirable for sure.

 

[hfman]

Marner wouldn’t stay even if you traded Matthews.

Marner wanted a small market, Toronto was never going to be that.

Is Vegas a small market? Sure as hell doesn't look that way

 

[Divine]

NHL has given them a chance to somewhat repair/distract this situation by giving them McKenna.


Don't f- this one up too

I personally think it would be hilarious if Marner had the best playoffs of his life and he still couldn’t carry a bad team to a Stanley Cup. He lost to the Stanley Cup champs in 7 last year.

I hope the media then comes for Vegas like they come for Toronto.

 

[Divine]

Is Vegas a small market? Sure as hell doesn't look that way

Yeah, they have the cheapest Stanley Cup Finals prices in NHL history. Cheaper than Carolina, which is also a small market.

It also helps that there’s no income tax for Money Marner.

 

[mix1home]

I've heard this sentiment a lot. Why do you think "he wouldn't"? Like psychologically he was blocked or he was lazy?

What he is doing this playoffs seems to confirm the notion that a lot of fans had, were he either wasn't trying, or he was already out of town in his head.

I bet he was just avoiding any type of contact, staying away from the puck a lot, making boneheaded plays that cost us some games and never came even to 50% of effort he is showing now. All to not get injured and to get that next big contract, screwing the team that invested so much in him. I bet also that his father played big role in that fraudulent behaviour. He is just stupid fraud. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[ACC1224]

As Kyper just said “that’s just the way it goes for Toronto fans”.

 

[hfman]

I personally think it would be hilarious if Marner had the best playoffs of his life and he still couldn’t carry a bad team to a Stanley Cup. He lost to the Stanley Cup champs in 7 last year.

I hope the media then comes for Vegas like they come for Toronto.

I've been saying for years that the general rule of thumb is that when a team is dominating the play for long stretches of time but can't score, that they're usually the ones to lose the game. Which was exactly what happened yet again tonight. Carolina dominated all through both OTs but sure enough Vegas squeaked one out, it happens with all teams, all the time. One team dominates the play for such a long time, but almost always ends up losing - the other team catches a break and scores to win it.

Anyways, looks like Vegas is going to win this one again. Carolina keeps falling behind and you can't expect to win if you're always chasing the game.

Marner will get his cup and his conn smythe, and it will absolutely terminate the Leafs organisation, they will never come out of this one.

 

[Community]

guys just admit it.

They were supposed to get rid of Matthews, not Marner. Many of us said it from day 1. And now you have your proof. There is simply no comparing the two of them.



The whole Marner situation is probably the biggest f-up in Leafs history

Seriously? He got offered the largest contract in franchise history which wouldve been tied for 2nd or 3rd in the league.

Leafs management didnt choose to get rid of Marner. He chose not to continue his career as a Leaf.

Not sure what youre going on about either for comparison. If Matthews was traded to Vegas instead, he could've been lighting it up there or not. Who knows.


All that we do know, is that for one reason or another, he couldn't do it in Toronto.

 

[hfman]

Yeah, they have the cheapest Stanley Cup Finals prices in NHL history. Cheaper than Carolina, which is also a small market.

It also helps that there’s no income tax for Money Marner.

when they eventually fade out, it'll be interesting to see what the support from the fan base will be long-term.

 

[Divine]

Seriously? He got offered the largest contract in franchise history which wouldve been tied for 2nd or 3rd in the league.

Leafs management didnt choose to get rid of Marner. He chose not to continue his career as a Leaf.

Not sure what youre going on about either for comparison. If Matthews was traded to Vegas instead, he could've been lighting it up there or not. Who knows.


All that we do know, is that for one reason or another, he couldn't do it in Toronto.

Toronto has higher income tax, they would have had to offer him 16M+ to be comparable.

Marner felt disrespected they weren’t matching Vegas’ take home pay.

 

[thewave]

Seriously? He got offered the largest contract in franchise history which wouldve been tied for 2nd or 3rd in the league.

Leafs management didnt choose to get rid of Marner. He chose not to continue his career as a Leaf.

Not sure what youre going on about either for comparison. If Matthews was traded to Vegas instead, he could've been lighting it up there or not. Who knows.


All that we do know, is that for one reason or another, he couldn't do it in Toronto.

Something was very wrong in the room. Matthews has looked out of it for a few years and Marner was acting miserable leading up to the departure. There were issues with the core and management didn't read the room correctly.

 

[Community]

Toronto has higher income tax, they would have had to offer him 16M+ to be comparable.

Marner felt disrespected they weren’t matching Vegas’ take home pay.

I doubt this is true. But if it is and he felt disrespected about being given an 8-year offer as one of the top 3 highest paid players in the league, despite 10 years without playoff success and several years of big game ineptitude, then thats his problem.

My comment either way was that the Leafs management didnt force him out. He decided he didnt want to be a Leaf anymore (which is fair, its his decision).

Edit: Ill also add that Toronto gave their offer before Vegas did. So there's no way that could be true.

 

[ACC1224]

Seriously? He got offered the largest contract in franchise history which wouldve been tied for 2nd or 3rd in the league.

Leafs management didnt choose to get rid of Marner. He chose not to continue his career as a Leaf.

Not sure what youre going on about either for comparison. If Matthews was traded to Vegas instead, he could've been lighting it up there or not. Who knows.


All that we do know, is that for one reason or another, he couldn't do it in Toronto.

Correct that he chose not to continue his career as a Leaf but that doesn’t make the Team less complicit in the whole affair.

 

[hfman]

Seriously? He got offered the largest contract in franchise history which wouldve been tied for 2nd or 3rd in the league.

Leafs management didnt choose to get rid of Marner. He chose not to continue his career as a Leaf.

Not sure what youre going on about either for comparison. If Matthews was traded to Vegas instead, he could've been lighting it up there or not. Who knows.


All that we do know, is that for one reason or another, he couldn't do it in Toronto.

Not a chance brother. He simply isn't that guy.


As for Marner choosing not to continue on as a Leaf, that's fair. But MLSE should have found a way to keep him long-term way before instead of milking him for regular-season revenue (tickets, jersey sales) for the last year or two and then just letting him walk. It's on them as well. They didn't provide solutions for the struggles he faced here.

He's a hometown Toronto boy, let's not kid around here. Something was seriously wrong for him to not want to stay and win in his own home city.

 

[IPS]

Marner got the most blame, that part isn't made up. But he did absolutely milk the rest of the stuff. That can't be denied. But he was blamed the most from 2020 up until he left.

More blame where? HFBoards? The Media?

 

[Divine]

I doubt this is true. But if it is and he felt disrespected about being given an 8-year offer as one of the top 3 highest paid players in the league, despite 10 years without playoff success and several years of big game ineptitude, then thats his problem.

My comment either way was that the Leafs management didnt force him out. He decided he didnt want to be a Leaf anymore (which is fair, its his decision).

Edit: Ill also add that Toronto gave their offer before Vegas did. So there's no way that could be true.

This isn't true, he already knew Vegas' offer.

Did you forget about the tampering charges the Leafs were considering filling last season?

 

[hfman]

I doubt this is true. But if it is and he felt disrespected about being given an 8-year offer as one of the top 3 highest paid players in the league, despite 10 years without playoff success and several years of big game ineptitude, then thats his problem.

My comment either way was that the Leafs management didnt force him out. He decided he didnt want to be a Leaf anymore (which is fair, its his decision).

Edit: Ill also add that Toronto gave their offer before Vegas did. So there's no way that could be true.

This is the thing.

He's born and raised in Toronto. Of course he wanted to win a Cup here for god's sakes lol.

Something went really, really wrong there. Whether it was feeling unsafe for himself and his family, the media, or problems with team mates. Something awful caused him to want out of his own hometown. It wasn't because some other team offered him more money lol.

Anyways I hope he wins it all. Huge middle finger to his former team and hopefully it forces them to finally look in the mirror and straighten out their problems, because no one seems to want to coach or play here right now and this whole situation is going to cause tidal waves across the entire league and shine the brightest spotlight ever on the Leafs and their incompetence once he wins the cup

 

[thewave]

Correct that he chose not to continue his career as a Leaf but that doesn’t make the Team less complicit in the whole affair.

The whole situation was and is organizational. Has been since to my knowledge Larry T refused JFJ the rebuild option. Ballard knew not to give Larry the reigns, TPP and Bell Rogers thought better.

It's from the top, the very top.

Ps. I liked Ballard more than Larry. It's not even close.