Mitch Marner, a key player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, has long been a focal point of admiration and criticism. As part of the team’s “Core Four,” Marner is scrutinized big time when the Maple Leafs fall short in the playoffs. Recently, former teammate and NHL veteran Zach Bogosian offered a vigorous defence of Marner, highlighting his character and contributions to the team. However, while Bogosian’s insights are valuable, they provide only a partial view of the complex situation surrounding Marner, which also involves his agent’s role in contract negotiations and the backlash that followed.
Bogosian’s Defense of Marner
In a recent Cam and Strick Podcast appearance, Bogosian, who played with the Maple Leafs during the 2020-21 season, passionately defended Marner. Bogosian emphasized Marner’s qualities as a teammate, describing him as a dedicated leader who cares deeply about those around him. “I’m going to bat for Mitchy,” Bogosian stated. “I don’t understand why everyone is always up his “rear” about everything. That kid is such a good kid; he’s a good leader, and he’s always trying to take care of everyone around the locker room.”
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Bogosian’s comments shed light on Marner’s off-ice persona, painting a picture of a player committed to his team and teammates. He also addressed a common criticism of Marner’s game—his perceived lack of physicality—by arguing that Marner excels by outthinking and outworking his opponents rather than relying on brute force. “He’s not going to run somebody over. That’s not his game. What his game is, he is going to outthink somebody. He’s going to outwork them,” Bogosian explained.
Other NHL veterans, including Hall of Famer Adam Oates, echoed Bogosian’s thoughts earlier. In an interview in May after the Maple Leafs were ousted from the postseason, Oates supported Marner, criticizing the unfair blame placed on him following the team’s playoff exit against the Boston Bruins, noting that Marner was unfairly singled out for a game-winning goal that wasn’t his responsibility. “It’s never one guy, and I feel bad for [Marner] because he’s in that market,” Oates said. (In that comment, Oates shared what he saw as Marner’s unique pressures of playing in a hockey-obsessed city like Toronto.)
The Limitations of Bogosian’s Perspective
While Bogosian’s support of Marner is genuine, it’s essential to recognize that his perspective is somewhat limited. During Marner’s contentious contract negotiations in 2019, Bogosian was dealing with his own issues with the Buffalo Sabres, where he faced a buyout after refusing a demotion to the American Hockey League (AHL). Consequently, Bogosian wasn’t present for the intense scrutiny and pressure that Marner experienced in Toronto. His understanding of Marner is primarily from a teammate’s perspective, which doesn’t fully encompass the broader frustrations of Maple Leafs fans who have endured nearly 60 years without a Stanley Cup.
Bogosian’s comments are from his vantage point and don’t capture the complete picture. The heightened expectations for Marner and the team add layers of complexity that Bogosian, as an outsider to those specific pressures, might not fully grasp. His insights provide valuable glimpses into Marner as a person and teammate, but they don’t address the broader context of the situation in Toronto.
Darren Ferris and Fan Backlash
One of the most significant factors contributing to the complicated relationship between Marner and a segment of the Maple Leafs fanbase is the role of his agent, Darren Ferris. Ferris’s handling of Marner’s 2019 contract negotiations had a lasting impact on how fans perceive Marner. The drawn-out process, marked by publicized comparisons to other high-profile contracts and rumours of potential offer sheets or even playing in Switzerland if he wasn’t appreciated in Toronto, was seen by many as a display of greed and divisiveness (from “Maple Leafs have lowballed Mitch Marner in contract talks, agent says,” Dave Feschuk, Toronto Star, 05/02/2019).
When Marner finally signed a six-year, $65.4 million deal, some viewed it as a contract that overvalued his contributions relative to the team’s needs, particularly given the salary cap constraints it imposed on the Maple Leafs. This perception, fair or not, has lingered, and Marner has become a scapegoat for some whenever the team underperforms.
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It’s hard to place all the blame on Marner for the way these negotiations played out. At the time, he was a young player trying to figure out the complexities of the NHL business world, relying on his agent to secure the best possible outcome. Ferris’s job was to get Marner the highest salary, which he did—but at the cost of alienating a portion of the fanbase. Ferris did his job well, but perhaps not with the long-term outcomes Marner might have later desired.
The Complexities of Marner’s Situation
Marner’s journey is a case study of the challenges young athletes face in high-pressure markets. At just 22 years old during his contract negotiations, Marner was still figuring out his place in the league and how to balance his values with his professional ambitions. His desire to remain in Toronto, the city he grew up in, while also seeking a salary that reflected his self-belief as one of hockey’s elite, created a problematic situation. Really, it would lack insight to blame a 22-year-old for any of this.
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Marner’s situation is more complex than it might appear. He’s a hometown boy who wants to stay with the team he loves, yet he also wants to be recognized and compensated as one of the best players in the NHL. The tension between these desires and the pressures of representing a storied franchise makes this situation uniquely challenging. The world at 22 might look quite different even five years later.
A Divided Opinion in Toronto
As Marner enters the final season of his contract, the uncertainty surrounding his future in Toronto looms large. While his teammates and veterans like Bogosian continue to voice their support, the shadow of his contract negotiations—and the subsequent backlash—remains a significant part of his NHL narrative.
The remarkable photo below shows the Maple Leafs’ core five players with whom Marner might want to continue to play. These are not just his teammates but his close friends.
(Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
Bogosian’s perspective offers a valuable, if limited, insight into the kind of player and person Marner is. However, it’s crucial to understand that Bogosian’s view, shaped by his experience as a teammate, doesn’t fully capture the complexities of Marner’s relationship with the fanbase. Ferris’s negotiation tactics and the long-standing frustrations of a championship-starved fanbase have created a challenging environment for Marner that requires careful navigation as he continues his career in Toronto. In that, Oates was absolutely correct.
If Marner were to leave the team in the future, it’s hard not to see this as the consequence of an agent’s misjudgment rather than a reflection of Marner’s deeper character or talent. The situation reminds us how crucial it is to manage public perception, especially in a passionate market like Toronto. How sad would it be if Marner were to leave the city he loved because of a mis-consideration that happened when he was much younger?
