"There were some very good times. He established himself as the greatest Maple Leafs player born in the Greater Toronto area. "Mitchy Magic" was often in full force at Scotiabank Arena. But the relationship turned sour. After years of playoff heartbreaks and early exits, the fan base put Marner in its crosshairs. According to the fans, he was one of the reasons the team wasn't able to finally capture another Stanley Cup and break the "1967" curse."
"For the first time in his NHL career, the Toronto native was the visitor, donning the Golden Knights' sweater. The first time he touched the puck, the Leafs faithful let him have it, showering him with boos. "That was fine," Marner told reporters after the game. "I knew it was going to come." Marner noted that the Leafs have a passionate fan base and that he still has "a lot of love for these fans.""
Mitch Marner spent nine seasons in Toronto and earned acclaim as the top Maple Leafs player born in the Greater Toronto Area, with "Mitchy Magic" regularly on display. Fan frustration grew after repeated playoff failures, with supporters blaming him for the team's inability to win the Stanley Cup and break the 1967 drought. Safety concerns escalated after his car was stolen and his address leaked, prompting private security for his family. Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on an eight-year, $12 million AAV deal. Returning to Toronto as a visitor, he was booed but also received a tribute video and some cheers.
Read at ESPN.com
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