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During the NHL’s media tour, Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon came to Mitch Marner’s defense, sending a clear message to Leafs fans.

After another first-round playoff exit and lackluster performance from Marner, who registered just one goal and three points in seven games against the Boston Bruins, the dissatisfaction from Leafs Nation was taken to another level.

A poor playoff performance coupled with Marner entering the final season of his current contract in search of a raise on his next deal has led to a very noisy off-season for Marner in terms of media coverage and criticism.

Marner has stayed relatively quiet and out of the media for obvious reasons, and according to Elliotte Friedman, has reportedly taken his training to another level in his preparations for the upcoming season.

Marner was recently in Vail, Colorado training with Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon before MacKinnon and Crosby made the trip to Las Vegas for the NHL’s media tour. In speaking with Michael Traikos from The Hockey News, MacKinnon was asked about Marner and the Leafs. MacKinnon was quick to address the heat that Marner has taken, but also feels for the Maple Leafs after another early postseason exit. MacKinnon knows what it’s like to bow out of the playoffs early year after year and how it feels to be a good team that has a hard time getting over the hump.

“I think Marner got a lot of flak. He’s one of the best players in the league,” Mackinnon said. “Toronto, I definitely feel for them.”

Thankfully for MacKinnon, he was able to help guide the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup in 2022 just a season after he dropped this quote about the first nine years of his career and the lack of playoff success.

For Leafs fans, the hope is that in a contract year and after a revamped off-season, Marner is able to finally help deliver some playoff success in Toronto, which would certainly change people’s opinion of him for the better.