Mitch Marner’s got some playful trash talk planned for his Maple Leafs buddies at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The Toronto star will be squaring off against teammates Auston Matthews and William Nylander, and he’s not planning to take it easy on them.
“It’s always fun to go up against your teammates,” Marner said with a grin. “There’s always a little bit of chirping.”
It’s not the first time they’ve found themselves on opposite sides of the ice in international play. But this time feels different.
The tournament’s loaded with talent, and Marner knows it won’t be a walk in the park. “Every team has a lot of skill and can make a lot of plays,” he said. “You’re going to have to work for your chances.”
He’s especially looking forward to getting under the skin of Matthews and Nylander – guys he usually passes to instead of defending against.
“You’ve got to stay patient,” Marner added. “None of these games will be easy.”
The friendly rivalry adds an extra spark to what’s already shaping up to be an exciting tournament, where teammates become temporary rivals and bragging rights in the Leafs’ locker room are definitely on the line.
