Mitch Marner returned home devastated after the playoff elimination and soon learned someone had posted his home address online. Family members received screenshots inviting people to "pay us a visit," creating immediate safety concerns for his wife and new son. The family employed full-time security for two weeks and feared routine activities like walking the dog. Intense local passion and ongoing harassment had been present for years, but the escalation to direct threats and doxxing crossed a line. The risk to family safety outweighed remaining in Toronto and contributed to signing with the Vegas Golden Knights.
"I get home," Marner said going over what happened after the playoffs. "I'm pretty disappointed, devastated. The thought also of it being my last Maple Leaf game at home. And then I get a phone call, probably five or so minutes after, from my wife's father. He goes, 'I just want to let you know we've got people sending us screenshots of a guy posting your address online, saying if people want to come pay us a visit and say their goodbyes in a quotation way... here's the address.'"
"It's a little tough, obviously. We kind of 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, 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."
Collection
[
|
...
]