Photo credit: USA Today Sports

In a recent interview on the Cam & Strick Podcast, former Toronto Maple Leaf Zach Bogosian was asked about Mitch Marner and did not hold back about what he thinks.

Bogosian played only 45 games for the Maple Leafs during the 2020-2021 season, but was regarded as a hard-nosed, bottom pairing defenseman who was difficult to play against. His play made him a favourite of both fans and teammates alike, including Marner, with whom Bogosian formed a tight bond.

Amid all of the heat that Marner is taking this summer, Bogosian is not too fond of the criticism, expressing his feelings on the matter on the Cam & Strick Podcast, as mentioned above.

“I’ll go to bat for Mitchy. I don’t understand why everyone is always up his ass about everything. That kid is such a good kid, such a good leader, he’s always trying to take care of everyone around the locker room. He’s obviously a great player but it’s almost like he’s the scapegoat for everyone, like a lightning rod for everyone to say this is the problem.

I’ve played with a lot of guys. He’s as a good of a person and a teammate as I’ve ever seen. So a lot of people give him shit about this and that and it’s like he’s trying everything.”

Those are great things to hear from a former teammate who really has nothing to gain by sticking up for anyone on the Leafs. You can tell that he truly believes what he’s saying about Marner.

Unfortunately, Bogosian is also missing part of the point.

Nobody disputes that Marner is a great player and person. The whole problem is the lack of success this team has had in the playoffs and the fact that Marner will demand a raise he arguably doesn’t deserve. Fans are tired of seeing so much money tied up in so few players without any real results in the playoffs.

Marner produced 26 goals and 85 points in 69 games last season. He followed up that sensational output with just 1 goal and 2 assists in 7 games against Boston in Round 1. He produced no points whatsoever in games 1, 2, 6 and 7.

It’s not fair to scapegoat Marner and only Marner. It’s a team sport after all. However, results are important. When there’s no success, teams consider making changes, even when it comes to their better players. Nobody wants to see another drawn out contract dispute and running back a losing core.

Brad Treliving has a big decision to make and has to make it quick. Keep him and alter the core another way, or find a trade partner. You can’t lose Marner for nothing, and right now, that seems like a legitimate possibility.