Mitch Marner “pissed off” at head coach Craig Berube.

The head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs believes one of this top forwards may have it out for him.

Things are going pretty well for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season with the Leafs sitting just 1 point back of the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in the National Hockey League’s Atlantic Division, all while having played 2 fewer games than the Panthers this season.

Not only is the team doing well in the standings but you can tell from the body language and comments coming from the team that there is a pretty positive atmosphere in the Maple Leafs locker room as well, and on Saturday night we got perhaps the best example of that yet during the post game media availability from Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube.

Berube was nearly the victim of friendly fire on several occasions during the course of the game and he was asked about that by a reporter following the conclusion of Saturday night’s win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Berube admitted that he nearly got hit a few times during the course of the game.

“I almost got hit twice,” said the Leafs bench boss.

Berube pointed the finger of blame at one of his star players for the friendly fire, joking that he perhaps wasn’t giving him enough ice time.

“I gotta talk to Mitch,” said Berube with a smile. “I don’t know if he’s pissed off at me or what. I guess he needs more ice time.”

Berube’s response elicited a laugh from the assembled members of the media and caused the normally very serious Berube to smile from ear to ear while making the comments.

Although I’m sure Berube would probably prefer to not be the target of pucks flying over the Maple Leafs bench, it is a good sign for the team as a whole that their head coach was in such a positive mood after nearly being taken out by one of his star players.