Mitch Marner gets candid about his mental health heading into the playoffs

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Liam
May 1, 2022 (10:45)

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Mitch Marner was the poster-boy for the Leafs' failures in the playoffs last season. After finishing a then-career best year, 5th in the league scoring, he had one of the most disappointing playoff performances in recent memory. Marner only notched 4 assists, but more notably, hasn't scored a playoff goal since 2019 - now three years ago.

Marner would constantly make weak plays, play with hesitancy, and took a shocking five puck-over-glass penalties in pure panic. Both the Leafs' losses and his own personal shortcomings culminated in a haunting photo of Marner crying in the penalty box in game 7.

Now with years of failure behind him, while personally taking the blame, Marner needed to win back Leaf fans in what was thought to be a meaningless season. It was an almost impossible task, but through truly incredible individual performances this season, Marner looks the the dynamic playmaker he is again.

Scoring 97 points in 72 games this year, with a career high 35 goals, Marner bettered his playmaking game while working in his shot more, making him both a passing and shooting threat. And while these regular season feats are amazing, both Leafs' fans and Marner know the true test begins tomorrow - and it's been Marner's greatest struggle.

It's why the Leafs hired performance coach and sports psychologist Greg Harden; to exorcise the playoff demons that have haunted them in years past. Marner particularly, being the poster boy of past failure, spoke on the impact Harden was able to make on their mindset heading into the playoffs.

Definitely different person the last couple years. But you know something like you just said, I talked about a lot just whenever you're here or whenever you're around the arena, you want to try to just get better at this in the gym on the ice and I think that's something that a lot of these guys are locker room do as well.

It's been great, just [Harden's] stuff. He's done in our locker room with our whole team events, one-on-one wise, just when you call me to talk about anything.

So just been a lot of relief. Everyone's got that kind of thing of hat. Just athletes in general we got we can handle anything by ourselves and stuff like that. It's not true. A lot of mental health stuff that goes on behind the associates there that some people really hide and for us athletes, there's nothing to be embarrassed or hide about you want to talk about some stuff.

It's been great to have Greg for that reason around and, you know, just in general don't think you should try and hold everything by yourself. You know, you got people gradually talk to and Greg's done a great job with that.

Stressing mental health and psychological well being does shed light on the fact that Marner has struggled with these issues stemming from past playoff failures. However, being able to work out issues in confidence with a team employee, while putting up yet another career best year, Marner has a newfound confidence going into this years' playoffs.

For the Toronto Maple Leafs, losing in the first round is no longer an option. The fan base, the players, and the management are desperate for just a taste of the championship. Perhaps not even a first round win will be able to satisfy those around the team as a marked improvement.

In addition, they face their greatest opponent yet in round one with the back-to-back defending champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Leafs and Marner need to prove what they're made of, how they've grown, and where they can go, all within the microcosm of just one playoff series. Game on.