#tor media availability

[16archive]

"what's it like being teammates with mitch?"

"he's a pretty [laughs] easygoing guy, and keeps it light, and, you know, I think one of the difficulties in pro sports is being able to show your personality and really be who you are, be comfortable in your own skin. he does a very good job of that, at just being him, and I think that's what makes him such a good player. what makes him a good leader is that he's not [laughs], he's not trying to be someone he's not. I think that's a very special ability that not many people have, truthfully."

[16archive]

auston on being asked if there's less distraction now that most of the team doesn't have possible contract negotiations coming up anymore

"most of you guys are under contract for a long time. how can it help the group that you don't have anything lingering that way with the big name through the season and the questions about that sort of thing, that [unintelligible] might potentially have?"

"yeah, I don't know. I mean, I don't think it was really much of a distraction last year, to be honest. from the start of camp, you're obviously working towards one goal, you know, coming together as quickly as possible. I don't really think any of the outside stuff was a distraction last year. and, you know, it's definitely not a distraction this year. and maybe you guys will ask a couple more mitchy questions here for the next couple of weeks, but hopefully that'll die down here shortly [laughs]."

[16archive]

"you go back a long way with mitch. what do you make of the attention, the scrutiny that he gets in this city?"

"I mean, he's a hell of a hockey player, man. like you said, I've known him since he was sixteen, seventeen, and you know, he wears his heart on his sleeve, he works hard, he's a hell of a teammate, he's somebody who, you know, brightens up the room whenever you're around him, so. looking at him on the ice, you can obviously see the kind of player he is, you know? he's passionate, cares, and he's a hell of a two-way player, you know? see what happens this summer."

for those who didn't know, mitch and stolie overlapped junior careers at the london knights in the 2013-14 season

[16archive]

auston was asked about taking inspiration from mitch to participate in the hockey night in brampton event this year

"auston, mitch played in this last year. did you talk to him about what this would be like for you, and why you'd want to take part in this this year?"

"yeah, him, max, jt, you know, a lot of guys have kind of came through and played in this, and. you know, I think it's special just to obviously give back to the community, come here, like I said, you're meeting so many nhl alumni, different guys from all over the place. and it's just pretty cool to come out here and obviously do it for a good cause and obviously have some fun too."

[16archive]

woller on mitch returning to toronto this friday

"it's an emotional night coming up on friday. how should mitch be remembered in this market [unintelligible] a decade?"

"yeah, I mean, right. you said he's been here about a decade or- he's been a special player for this team for a long time, and he's been a big presence in the community as well, not just with hockey, so. I would hope it's a warm welcome. I know he has nothing but, you know, good memories here, and I think the fans have experienced a lot of good memories with him as well, so. he's a great guy. it's unfortunate he's not with our group anymore, but. yeah, I mean, I hope, I think hockey is a place of respect, and I hope that, you know, the fans pay him respect. I can't speak for everyone. I don't know how everyone feels, but, just with playing with him, I know he's been an unbelievable guy, and it's going to be emotional for him."

"how was it playing him last week? I think he had the first shot in that game."

"yeah, it was weird seeing him as a center and running the power play as a d man, he's all over the ice [laughs]. yeah, he had a little facial hair. he's embracing the dad life [laughs]. but no, it was nice to see him and catch up a bit, and it would be good for him to get back in the building."

[16archive]

why would they ask him this lol

"you have a habit of, pre-game, staying out as late as possible, you and mitch always did. have you thought about how that will change? like, are you going to ask someone to stay out with you or are you going to change things up this year?"

"I mean-"

"see what happens?"

"see what happens, I guess, yeah. you got two more weeks and then [laughs] we're done with these questions."

[16archive]

"you were max pacioretty in montreal, what's mitch marner in toronto like? like, what does he go through, you've lived a similar life."

"yeah, I mean, I was never as good as him [laughs], and teams are always dreaming of having a mitch marner on their roster, and. yeah, I don't hear all of it, but certainly it's impossible to completely avoid what's the noise out there, and. you know, if he wasn't a great player, there wouldn't be as much noise. and I think what was surprising- not surprising me, but what was, I certainly didn't realize was, when I came here was how much he cares about play all over the ice. he's a two-way player, and often times that is, it's unfortunate because you're only judged on one thing, but to win hockey games, and, I'll use an example like, the team we just played like, no one was absolutely lighting it up. guys were playing two hundred foot games and that's a recipe for success, so. it's a big of tug-of-war, of, you know, wanting people to take over series and games and the playoffs offensively. well, to do so, you know, you can't neglect your own end of the ice. and that's how teams win, is by playing in all three zones, and mitchy certainly takes care of business in all three zones."

[16archive]

"how different does it feel without mitch? he was here for ten years. is it kind of strange, or you notice it?"

"yeah, I mean, a little bit, but I think, we got here, I mean, a week ago. so the first couple of days was really weird, but, slowly adjusting to it."