Warning: Story contains coarse language
Veteran defenseman Zach Bogosian thinks fans should lay off of Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner.
"I'll go to bat for Mitchy," the rearguard said during a recent appearance on the "Cam and Strick Podcast." "I don't understand why everyone is always up his ass about everything. I mean, that kid is such a good kid. He's a good leader, he's always trying to take care of everyone around the locker room. He's obviously a great player, but it's almost like he's the scapegoat for everyone, like a lightning rod for everyone to say, 'This is the problem.'
"I've played with a lot of guys, he is as good of a person and a teammate as I've ever seen. A lot of people give him shit about this and that and we haven't done this, and it's, like, well, he's trying everything."
Bogosian and Marner were teammates during the 2020-21 season after the former signed a one-year, $1-million pact with Toronto as a free agent.
The Maple Leafs underwhelmed in the playoffs this past spring, losing to the Boston Bruins in the first round, and they've picked up just one series win in the last eight years. But Marner has faced the brunt of the backlash from a restless fanbase that wants to shake up Toronto's core.
The 27-year-old mustered one goal, three points, six hits, and one block in Toronto's seven-game series against the Bruins and has been criticized for his perceived lack of physical play. However, Bogosian argued that isn't Marner's job.
"He's not going to run somebody over, that's not his game," he said. "What his game is, he's going to out-think somebody. ... A lot of those smart players, you never really see - Nikita Kucherov - get hit. He's good at just not getting hit."
Marner is one of the Leafs' most consistent producers despite Toronto's lack of postseason success. Since his debut in 2016-17, he ranks second on the team with 639 points in 576 regular-season games and leads the Leafs with 50 points in 57 playoff contests.
"I'll have his back every fucking day of the week, man. ... Anyone that has something to say about him, you can fuck off because he's such a good person, they don't know," Bogosian said. "Anybody that doesn't know somebody and decides they are going to rip him, get to know the person first."
Marner is entering the final season of a six-year deal that pays him $10.903 million annually and comes with a full no-move clause. He's been eligible to re-up with his hometown team since July 1.
