Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving speaks out in wake of Mitch Marner's safety concerns

Marner had made comments last week during an interview with TSN reporter Mark Masters about how he was concerned about his family’s safety following the Maple Leafs’ second-round series loss to the Florida Panthers. Sportsnet columnist Eric Engels caught up with Treliving this week about those comments.

“In our business, your No. 1 priority is looking after your players, and I think we do a really good job of it. I don’t have any concerns that we don’t do everything humanly possible to make sure that they’re looked after, but in today’s world, you never take anything not seriously. In today’s world — and it can go for Toronto, it can go for any market with social media — the lion’s share of people can have good, honest discourse but there’s always the ones that cross the line. It’s unfortunate, but we always take every precaution necessary to make sure our guys are looked after.”

Marner had reportedly hired a security team to address his concerns for his family’s safety after some Leafs’ fans response on social media to the team’s disappointing playoff exit. Marner and his wife Stephanie welcomed their first child Miles into the world just before the start of the Leafs’ series against the Panthers, so there was extra concern considering that the family was entering a new chapter of their life.

Following the Leafs’ playoff loss, the Vegas Golden Knights had traded for Marner’s signing rights after the winger had expressed an interest to explore the free-agent market, with Toronto getting center Nicolas Roy in return. Marner then signed an eight-year contract with a $12 million cap hit, which ties with Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen as the most expensive contract in the league among wingers.