Nick Kypreos, in his Toronto Star column, calls on Maple Leafs fans to refrain from criticizing Mitch Marner if he decides to leave the team as a free agent this summer. He notes a shift in NHL culture where player loyalty is diminishing, illustrated by recent moves involving stars like Mikko Rantanen and Brad Marchand. Despite Marner's expressed love for the Leafs, Kypreos argues that emerging trends suggest players must prioritize personal career and financial goals over loyalty to their teams, suggesting that Marner’s situation merits understanding rather than vilification.
NHL teams aren't always loyal to their players when they want too much money for management's tastes. Therefore, Marner shouldn't be loyal to the Leafs.
We are in an era where teams are comfortable cutting longtime captains loose. An era where homegrown stars can be traded over relatively small salary disputes.
Marner has said for years that he loves playing for the Leafs, but that hometown loyalty may no longer be enough. And why should it be?
The NHL used to be a place where loyalty reigned supreme, but loyalty has become a relic of the NHL's past.
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