After another disastrous Game 7 showing from the Toronto Maple Leafs, change feels inevitable.

The Toronto Maple Leafs delivered a near-identical collapse in Game 7 to the one they suffered in Game 5, another humiliating 6-1 loss on home ice to the Florida Panthers. The season-ending defeat sent the crowd at Scotiabank Arena into a frenzy on Sunday night, and the franchise spiraling. This wasn’t just another loss, it was the final blow for an era defined by its inability to break through.

The loss tied an NHL record for the largest margin of defeat by a home team in a Game 7. It also marked the Maple Leafs’ seventh consecutive Game 7 loss.

This time, it felt different. 

The boos began after a three-goal second period by the Panthers and only intensified as Florida piled on throughout the remaining 20 minutes of play. Beer cans, hats, and jerseys were thrown onto the ice, one during live play, as a beyond disappointed crowd watched their team unravel in a fashion all too familiar.

No player felt the frustration more than star winger Mitch Marner, who was booed every time he touched the puck in the final frame by his own fan base on home ice. 

“I mean, you feel for it,” Marner said of the fan reaction. “I’m feeling the same way. It's like I said, it's sad. It's heartbreaking. It's something you don't enjoy. We're not happy with that outcome either.”

“Sadness, obviously depression. Yeah, I don't know all of it,” he added, on the emotions that stemmed from the result.

Marner failed to record a point in Game 7 and was minus-2 on the night.

In six career Game 7 appearances, he has zero goals and just two assists. He’s not alone in that underperformance, but the 28-year-old, one of the faces of the franchise, has been the focal point of resentment, especially given his price tag and the heightened expectations that come along with it.

The disconnect between his regular-season output and postseason production has only widened the divide between Marner and Leafs Nation, who have grown restless in the nine-year relationship. 

'I Believe In Them': Why Maple Leafs Are Sticking With Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner Duo In Game 6 Against Panthers The Toronto Maple Leafs are rolling with the same lineup that's resulted in playoff success in the past, with Game 6 against the Florida Panthers on the horizon.

After the game, Marner was visibly emotional, claiming he was ‘devastated,’ and uncertain about what comes next.

“I don’t have any thoughts right now,” Marner said, referencing his future as a Maple Leaf. “Like I said, pretty devastated with what just happened. Yeah, devastated. I’ve always enjoyed this team, this city, like I’ve always said.”

When asked whether any part of him believes it might be time to move on, he replied, “Like I said, I haven’t thought about anything. Just thought about coming here every day and trying to put my best foot forward, help this team win hockey games and try to win that ultimate goal. Fell short.”

‘Stuck With Our Guns’: Mitch Marner, Maple Leafs' Buy-In Leads Unified Effort In Season-Saving Game 6 Against Panthers For the Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 6 was a clear example of what full buy-in to head coach Craig Berube’s system can look like when executed in a must-win Game 6. Backed by a composed, patient, and disciplined performance on the road, the Leafs weathered the storm and blanked the Florida Panthers 2-0 on Friday night to force a Game 7.

The Markham, Ont, native was selected by the club fourth overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Since then, he’s spent his entire career playing for his hometown Maple Leafs, making the postseason in each of his nine seasons donning the blue and white. In 657 regular-season games, the forward has 221 goals, 520 assists, and 741 points to go along with 13 goals, 50 assists, and 63 points in 70 postseason games for the club.

In this era, he’s been relied on as one of the team’s most productive players, and it’s safe to say that he’s enjoyed playing in Toronto and wearing the Leafs jersey. Following the Game 7 loss, Marner reflected on his journey.

“It’s meant everything. Took a risky pick on a small kid from Toronto, and I’ve been forever grateful to be able to wear this Maple Leaf and be a part of some of the great legends here and be able to wear this jersey. So, I’ve never taken a day for granted, and I always loved it,” he said.

End of the Mitch Marner era in Toronto?

His future has been cloudy for a while.

However, Marner’s contract, a six-year, $65.4 million deal signed in 2019, is now complete on the ice. He becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, unless a deal is struck beforehand. But given Toronto’s lack of execution and success in the postseason, among many other factors from both parties, it’s unclear if he’ll be back under any circumstances. 

In fact, the Leafs attempted to move Marner at the trade deadline in March, according to reports. The proposed deal would have sent him to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Mikko Rantanen, but Marner reportedly declined to waive his no-movement clause.

Reports: Hurricanes Asked Maple Leafs For Mitch Marner In Exchange For Mikko Rantanen Before NHL Trade Deadline Marner is in the final season of a six-year contract he signed with Toronto in September 2019.

While some believed the decision signaled his intent to re-sign with Toronto, that wasn’t necessarily the case. Marner’s camp made it clear there would be no in-season extension talks, leaving the Leafs to assess his future in the wake of another playoff disappointment.

According to TSN’s NHL insider Darren Dreger, the Leafs were once comfortable exploring a long-term extension for Marner, possibly eight years at upwards of $13.5 million per year, he said following Game 7.

He was unsure if Toronto would be comfortable doing that now.

"I think that Toronto was comfortable at one point of paying Mitch Marner on a mega extension of eight years, upwards of $13.5 million per year,” said Dreger.

Furthermore, as reported earlier this week by The Athletic’s Chris Johnston following Game 5, sources suggested that Marner was leaning toward seeking a fresh start elsewhere.

As of now, there is no confirmation on the possible outcome or whether a split between the forward and the organization will happen. Regardless, his long-time teammates, captain Auston Matthews and longest-tenured Maple Leaf Morgan Rielly, shared their support of Marner, speaking candidly about him following the second-round series loss.

“He’s like a brother to me. To all of us. I think we’re a very tight-knit group, and we obviously love him to death. That’s all I can really say about that,” said Matthews.

“He's an incredible hockey player. There's no two ways about it,” added Rielly. “So, I can't speak on his future, but he's been a joy to watch.”

From the bigger picture, Marner may have played his final game in a Leafs sweater. 

However, it’s still unclear what happens next, for Marner or for the organization. But the current formula has failed again. Patience has run out, and change now feels both necessary and imminent.

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