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P.K. Subban has voiced his displeasure with Leafs fans about how they have treated Mitch Marner since the end of last season, following another first-round playoff exit.

Leafs Nation has been arguably unfair with Mitch Marner since he failed to help the team advance past the first round yet again in this most recent post-season. The frustration seemed to boil over in the middle of summer after Marner was spotted on a Sea-Doo while teammates like Max Domi were posting their workouts instead of their summer fun photos.

With all of the hate he gets, it was a tad surprising to see Marner issue a statement, thanking fans for all of their support in an interview with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

With all of the heat Marner constantly faces, P.K. Subban came to the defense of the skilled winger, as other players around the league have, defending Marner with all of the backlash he faces. Subban really let Leafs Nation have it during a recent segment on ‘The JD Bunkis’ podcast.

“When I look at Mitch Marner, I think the scrutiny he is under is unwarranted. He is an all-star, superstar talent in the National Hockey League. For any Leafs fan that doesn’t support him as a player, you will miss him when he is gone. I will guarantee that.

I don’t care if they win a Stanley Cup or not. If Mitch Marner leaves that team and they win a Stanley Cup, they’re still going to wish that he stayed there because they are going to watch him go somewhere else and possibly win multiple Cups. He’s that good of a player.

To me it’s about management, especially in an original six franchise. It’s on management to make sure that the player feels loved, protect and that the team has his back.

For Toronto fans, I would sit down with any of them and say justify to me what you don’t like about Mitch Marner and what he’s done for your team. If you look at his numbers last year in the playoffs, he had a good playoffs. So I don’t understand, what is the problem? What don’t people like about him? What are people upset about? For me, I see an elite player that’s been elite in the National Hockey League since he’s been there and the Toronto Maple Leafs should be happy that they have him because every other team on the planet would love to have Mitch Marner.”

As Marner plays out the final year of his six-year deal, he is reportedly fine with having on-going discussions with the Leafs about an extension. Though, if you ask Subban, I’m sure he’s even a little curious as to why Marner takes it when he could simply just move on as a UFA next summer.

Some of what Subban said is correct, but Marner didn’t exactly have a good playoff series against the Bruins, posting just a goal and two assists in seven games when the team needed more help from him when they were facing significant injuries.

Although discussions are on-going, with the heat he continuously faces, Marner may decide against remaining a Leafs long-term and Leaf fans may chase yet another prolific player out of town — and you know what? I wouldn’t blame him. Every man has his limits.