Mitch Marner’s got a playful rivalry brewing with his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates, and he’s not afraid to stir the pot.
The star forward is facing off against Auston Matthews and William Nylander at the Four Nations tournament, and he’s clearly enjoying the chance to be on the opposite side of the ice from his usual linemates.
“It’ll be great. It’s exciting,” Marner said with a grin. “There’s always a little bit of chirping.”
But he knows these games won’t be a walk in the park. Every team in the tournament is stacked with talent, and scoring chances won’t come easy.
“You’re going to have to work for your chances and make the most of your opportunities,” he explained.
It’s not the first time these Leafs stars have squared off in international competition. They’ve been here before, but this time feels different.
Marner’s particularly looking forward to getting under his teammates’ skin – something that’s a lot more fun when they’re wearing different jerseys.
“Every team has a lot of skill and can make a lot of plays,” he said. “So it’s about staying patient.”
The tournament is giving fans a rare glimpse of what happens when teammates become rivals, even if it’s just for a few games.
