'It's Not Fun, Everyone's Against You': Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner Proud of Ilya Samsonov's Ability to Block Out The Noise
'It's Not Fun, Everyone's Against You': Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner Proud of Ilya Samsonov's Ability to Block Out The Noise
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports - 'It's Not Fun, Everyone's Against You': Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner Proud of Ilya Samsonov's Ability to Block Out The NoiseIlya Samsonov is in a better place after the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender's 32-save shutout against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday and Mitch Marner couldn't be happier.
The star forward can sympathize with his teammate's struggles this season. Certainly, there was a lot of chatter on the outside wondering if the Russian goaltender would ever find his game again after a turbulent season when the 26-year-old was placed on waivers on Dec. 31.
"I’ve been in those moments as well. It’s not fun. Everyone’s against you. Everyone is coming at you at all different angles and thinking you’re not good enough," Marner said of Samsonov following his team's 1-0 victory. "For him to come back fight through that as he has and play as well as he has for us and won us the last couple of games in net, he’s done a great job of it."
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWsr2k88ry4[/embed]
It's not the first time Marner has acknowledged outside criticism or observations about him or his team this season.
Following a 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Jan. 16, Marner pointed his comments to the outside of the room when asked about his team's confidence following team's fourth straight game without a win.
"We've got to ignore what anyone else says, we know we're a great hockey team," he said.
When asked if he felt frustration seeping in? Marner denied it but added, "I think a lot of people on the outside are trying to do that."
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH5GX5x7338[/embed]
It's not the first time Marner has directed some comments toward outside criticism from his team. He's done it when referring to players on other teams.
When the Maple Leafs hosted rookie sensation Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks this season, Marner was asked about how he felt Bedard was handling hype that surrounded him
"Great, you guys aren't easy to please," Marner replied. "You guys have a lot of expectations for him as a lot of people do."
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNMQmhF73vc[/embed]
Marner, says he blocks out all of the outside analysis or criticism that comes toward him and says whenever he's been down he's had his own methods of getting out of a funk.
"Talking to people. You’ve got to express your emotions. When you hold onto stuff by yourself it gets in your mind and it puts you in a dark spot," Marner said. We’re lucky enough to have people around for us who care for us and want to hear how you’re feeling."
Whatever it is, it seems to have worked for Marner throughout his career. In eight seasons with the Leafs, he has 605 points in 553 games and has been one of the pillars of Toronto's core throughout his time.
But with Samsonov restored to his old self, Marner couldn't help but be proud of seeing the goaltender pull out of the nosedive.
"It just shows how mentally strong he is. I’ve tried to talk to him. I know he’s a hell of a goaltender. He does amazing things for us in net. Obviously, everyone goes through spells when everything’s not going your way. It affects you and you hear it and it affects you more and he’s done a great job of blocking it out."
Related
News from THN.com