Maple Leafs rightfully facing mockery for 'mentors trip' decision with Morgan Rielly
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing criticism for their "mentors trip" decision involving longtime defenseman Morgan Rielly as their season continues to swirl further and further down the drain.
It won't be long now before the summer begins for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are going to miss the playoffs and also have lost captain Auston Matthews for the remainder of the season because of a Grade 3 MCL injury.
Right now, the Maple Leafs are set to take on the divisional foe Boston Bruins in Boston, and it's also their mentors trip in which they can take a close friend or family member along for the road trip.
Eyebrows were raised when Morgan Rielly brought ex-Leafs forward Jake Gardiner as his "mentor".
Head coach Craig Berube, who was familiar with Gardiner thanks to Tyler Bozak dating back to their days with the St. Louis Blues, described their interaction following practice this morning:
Whether it's a brother, dad, sister....a bunch of different types of people, grandfathers, all that. And Jake Gardiner is here, I had a good chat this morning with him....he told me Tyler Bozak said to say hi. - Craig Berube
But the Leafs are getting criticized for it, with many fans stating they're not sure why he would be there considering his own past struggles when he wore a Toronto sweater.
Jake Gardiner Is An Ex Maple Leafs Defenseman
Gardiner was taken 17th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, but he never played a game for them, instead getting traded to the Maple Leafs in 2011 along with Joffrey Lupul.
He played six full years with the Maple Leafs from 2013 through 2019, and later played two years for the Carolina Hurricanes.
In 645 career NHL games, he had 277 points (49G, 228A).
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| POLL | ||
MARS 24|206 ANSWERS Maple Leafs rightfully facing mockery for 'mentors trip' decision with Morgan Rielly Will Morgan Rielly finish his career in a Maple Leafs sweater? | ||
| Yes | 31 | 15 % |
| No | 175 | 85 % |
| List of polls | ||