Minor Ex-Leaf News

[cabber24]

The only mistake the Leafs ever made with Marner was giving him $11M per season 8 years ago.

 

[Andy07]

So maybe this is a silly thought, but I was wondering if there was any type of recourse for (or conditions to) a player or someone associated to a player (i.e AGENT) publicly spewing vitriol about an organization, particularly when talking about exaggerated/unsubstantiated/subjective or perceived slights? And again, this might be silly, but I almost wonder if this could even be a form of tampering? Couldn't the aim of these constant, unprovoked barrages be perceived as attempts to sway other players from signing in Toronto? I don't know, this is all so bizarre; I can't understand what the end game or purpose to these whines are.

 

[herman]

So maybe this is a silly thought, but I was wondering if there was any type of recourse for (or conditions to) a player or someone associated to a player (i.e AGENT) publicly spewing vitriol about an organization, particularly when talking about exaggerated/unsubstantiated/subjective or perceived slights? And again, this might be silly, but I almost wonder if this could even be a form of tampering? Couldn't the aim of these constant, unprovoked barrages be perceived as attempts to sway other players from signing in Toronto? I don't know, this is all so bizarre; I can't understand what the end game or purpose to these whines are.

The agent in question doesn't really do this for any of his other players, so the Occam's Razor conclusion is he is doing it at the behest of the one he represents on this matter.

The only purpose it serves at this point, since Toronto isn't going to pay Marner anything more the way these stories worked out on that second contract, is to try and lock in the narrative that Marner left his hometown draft team because he was the victim of organizational machinations and not protected from fanbase vitriol.

The actual result, as we're seeing this past week, is everyone around the league is starting to see the Marner camp for what they have been throughout his career. For the first time in my life, I'm seeing other fanbases rally around the Leafs.

 

[Bender]

Its's instructive to me seeing even Sittler not bury Harold Freaking Ballard in the way Marner's camp does of the Leafs crest from start to finish. It's absurd.

 

[Zee]

Its's instructive to me seeing even Sittler not bury Harold Freaking Ballard in the way Marner's camp does of the Leafs crest from start to finish. It's absurd.

Different eras, different mindsets. Back in Sittler's day, deferring to the shield and authority was built into the culture, no matter how bad the owner was. Today’s generation is way more focused on individual brand and self preservation. Hard to compare the two when the entire culture around pro sports has shifted

 

[Bender]

Different eras, different mindsets. Back in Sittler's day, deferring to the shield and authority was built into the culture, no matter how bad the owner was. Today’s generation is way more focused on individual brand and self preservation. Hard to compare the two when the entire culture around pro sports has shifted

I don't see any problem comparing it. Sittler viewed Imlach as a problem and has openly said so, and from that vantage point I think generally people have self awareness and are still able to differentiate between the actual problem issues instead of just saying everything was permanently horrible and everyone was out to get me.

 

[mr grieves]

If you want to keep good things in this life, sometimes, you have to step up and take care of them.
Ferris could be the canary telling you the Leafs didn't do that.
It cost them last season and will probably cost them again this season because they are not a contender. According to oddsmakers and some pundits, they're maybe a playoff team if things go well for them ... with a few weeks before training camp ...
Can't help but wonder what Matthews thinks about how they treated his friend and setup man. That too is pertinent to today's team because Matthews has a BIG decision to make by next July if not sooner. A decision that will affect all Leafs fans.
Sure it would be great to stick our heads in the sand and pretend something else. Or to try to forget about it. But actions may have consequences that this team has yet to face.
I don't think suppressing the first amendment is going to solve it. Matthews will probably get the last word.

I listened to the Ferris interview and the SDP commentary and a few things stick out:

1. Ferris as "canary" -- we learned the agent told the Leafs GM they weren't going to discuss a contract in season (confirming Marner's account wen joining Vegas) and presented them with a list of concerns they wanted addressed and some western conference teams they'd accept a trade to. Given those last two pieces, little wonder they were trying to trade him.
2. Matthews drawing conclusions about what happened to his "friend and set up guy" -- we see, again, the degree of jealousy over Matthews's standing with the team (the money, the bonuses, the captaincy). I wouldn't overstate how close their bond was or is. There's clearly competition between the two, and it looks like part of what incensed Marner's camp was that the Leafs were so much more accommodating of Matthews's needs. That seems not to have stopped under the new regime.