1. Is the goal MM redeemed him from his play before that?
2. To me it is not MM talents but he just doesn’t have the mental fortitude to lead any team.
Partly that’s on the Leafs for never having strong good vets to lead AM, Willie and MM. Partly due to the maturity of our guys. It seemed like they really have not changed the way they play in the playoffs. How can Reilly still not develop a slapper? How can MM still not develop any shots? We all saw what Willie can do but how come he can’t bring it more often? AM can literally take over a game, but he needs to do that more often?
I know Willie just got back and AM seemed to be bother by something since Game 2 but if AM let Coyle to outplay him, that’s no excuse bc AM at 60% is still better than Coyle.
Adversity or not this team doesn’t seem to have matured one lick since those early Boston series.
The fact that this team lost 4 straight entering the playoffs playing brain dead meaningless hockey and then have dropped 3 of 4 to Boston to go a combined 1-7 in the most critical time of the year, while struggling with consistency, details, composure. Tells you a lot.
Health and injuries are what they are. But it’s just the fact that it looks the same as it always has that is the problem.
With Matthews, I dunno. Don’t have info on his health. But Coyle is better than him. Before that it was Barkov and Bennett. Before that it was Cirelli. Before that it was Danault. Then Dubois. He’s played head to head against a lot of meh whatever centers and how many times has he come out ahead.
Marner’s kind of entering the meh who cares territory. He’s not capable so stop expecting it.