In what turned out to be his last shift playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, a shift that seemed excessively long, fans of the team he supported since childhood jeered him whenever he controlled the puck.
Weary from a fruitless power play (six-on-five) that lasted an arduous 106 seconds, and demoralized by the scoreboard displaying the crushing 6-1 defeat – a score reminiscent of past failures – Marner surrendered the puck and skated towards the home bench at Scotiabank Arena for what would be his final time there on Sunday.
Before reaching the bench, his celebrated skates had to navigate around yet another replica jersey thrown onto the ice during play. He skated through a mess of spilled beer, tossed in frustration moments before the star player sat down on the very bench that had also been targeted by the same expensive beverage.
This appears to be the conclusion.
For Mitch Marner.
And for team president Brendan Shanahan.
This time, it seems definitive.
