Does Mitch seem different since coming back from the 4 Nations?

[nuck]

Edit. Not sure but he looks pretty good.

 

[Hotpot]

Definitely more confident and re-assured.

I think winning helps, but more importantly being around the likes of Crosby, McDavid and seeing how they play in pressure situations helps too.

Another thing is that I think some people's negative perspectives of Marner might of changed, so the positive looks brighter

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

He probably hasn't changed.. but our perception of him sure has!

 

[francis246]

So, the $13M dollar man needs Marner - the guy you want to get rid of, to score, sounds like a fool proof plan. Nothing is ever Matthews fault, only Marner is too blame.

Marner gets too many assists - He needs to score more goals!
Marner scores too many goals - Why isn't he setting up Matthews?
- Antropovsky

His post is always nonsense, completely ignores Marner put it in a tee for Matthews twice last night and Matthews ripped it off the post twice. It’s just been that type of season for Matthews. I’d love to see them split up. Just end the narrative.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

He looks like the exact same greedy snotty thinks-he's-better-than-everyone-else hockey player to me.

The best thing ML$E could do is let this guy walk. He's a proven playoffs no show loser. That's on top of having the worst attitude of anyone on the team.

Toxic Marner is toxic.

Anyone who says otherwise hasn't been paying attention. The media sound bites and undermining of players like Crosby are just glimpses the public are able to see. O'Rielly and Schenn both saw enough behind the scenes they refused to re-sign.

They'd rather be members of a hockey team than a country club.

As a leader it's up to Marner to set the right tone in the dressing room. This he clearly has not accomplished. A failure to accept personal responsibility while at the same time demanding obnoxious amounts of money to play a game that he doesn't take seriously for a living.

Marner said it best himself "It's just hockey" right Mitch.

 

[leafs in five]

He looks like the exact same greedy snotty thinks-he's-better-than-everyone-else hockey player to me.

you don't say

 

[francis246]

He looks like the exact same greedy snotty thinks-he's-better-than-everyone-else hockey player to me.

The best thing ML$E could do is let this guy walk. He's a proven playoffs no show loser. That's on top of having the worst attitude of anyone on the team.

Toxic Marner is toxic.

Anyone who says otherwise hasn't been paying attention. The media sound bites and undermining of players like Crosby are just glimpses the public are able to see. O'Rielly and Schenn both saw enough behind the scenes they refused to re-sign.

They'd rather be members of a hockey team than a country club.

As a leader it's up to Marner to set the right tone in the dressing room. This he clearly has not accomplished. A failure to accept personal responsibility while at the same time demanding obnoxious amounts of money to play a game that he doesn't take seriously for a living.

Marner said it best himself "It's just hockey" right Mitch.

O’Reilly saw enough of Marner?

Didn’t O’Reilly and Schenn both say the fans unfairly blame Marner for losses?

Didn’t O’Reilly also ask his GM to go trade for Marner after last years Boston series as well?

As normal just really wrong lol

 

[tuckerintensity]

He's the exact same player he's been all year, but if the 4 Nations gives people a reason to view him as the incredible hockey player he is, I'm fine with it.

 

[Mess]

You have to believe the impact and felling of winning has had a positive influence on him.

Once you get the taste of winning in sports you want more of that feeling.

I don't think it dramatically changes a person's skill nor style, but rather only impacts their potential compete level in a desire to repeat that winning feeling.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

He does so much right on the ice. If he was 6'0, 190 lbs and used his weight more he'd be adored by Leafs nation. But he's not, so we have to accept his magic when he is on, and his foibles when he's not. He does look a bit more confident out there, the antithesis of Matthews, who looks sad for the lack of a better word.

 

[therealkoho]

you don't say

I don't think he did!

 

[Dekes For Days]

No.

He's the same spectacular player he's been for years and years.

 

[Doublerum1975]

The difference is Mcdavid finished on his setup in a high pressure game Mathews doesn’t

 

[666]

No.

He's the same spectacular player he's been for years and years.

This. Imagine if Marner plays the exact same games in the 4 nations and Bennett's shot gets saved and they don't got to OT. Now Marner has one 3-3 point in the tournament and the points counting Marner haters call for his head. Allowing for the super fast pace, Marner pretty well played like he always does (a star) except this time the shooters put it in, yet some people think he's turned some corner. It's absurd.

The difference is Mcdavid finished on his setup in a high pressure game Mathews doesn’t

Matthews regular season (605 games) sh% 15.9%
Matthews playoffs (55 games) sh% : 9.8%
Matthews last 3 games of playoffs in last 4 season (12 games) sh% 4.25%

 

[Warden of the North]

No.

Mitch has always been an amazing regular season performer, overshadowed by lacklustre playoff performances.

 

[notDatsyuk]

I've always said Marner is great when he has space to move and others generally need to create that space for him.

He has 2 goals in 3 games since returning from 4 nations. Both were not 5v5, one was 5v4 PP and the other 3v3 OT. Both plays, Matthews made spectacular plays to give Marner room. People really underestimating just how good Matthews is.

Goal 1:
On the PP...Matthews stick lifted and physically checked a Bruins player, allowing Marner to pick up a Tavares pass and walk into the goalie on a 2v1 with Nylander, with the Bruin defender standing still trying to defend the 2v1 in tight (and opted to defend Nylanders shot).
.

View attachment 983327
View attachment 983332

Goal 2:
On the 3v3 OT, Marner jumped the zone all alone, relying on Matthews to win the 50/5] battle to a loose puck and sending Marner on a breakaway.

View attachment 983329
View attachment 983328


The real question is why isn't the best playmaker in the league (apparently), Marner, setting up any of these types of plays for Matthews? Why is Matthews struggling to score off Marner passes? Nylander set up a literal tap in for Tavares a couple games ago...why aren't we seeing Marner do the same?

Marner has a total of 4 points in his last 7 games.
He has a total of 2 5v5 point in his past 7 games.

Let's settle down a bit.

Hockey 101 says the D takes the pass and the goalie takes the shot. Especially when the puck carrier is the weaker shot. The D played the first goal right - a good shot scored.

 

[Aashir]

Mitch Marner will always be successful when he attacks open space, makes smart and simple plays, and doesn’t try to do everything all the time

When he retreats to the point, is flailing all over the ice trying to make everything happen, is forcing triple covered passes to shooters, he is unwatchable

Before the finals, he was a lot more of the second player I described, but the finals onwards he’s been more of the first guy.

He has both in them, and has had them since he came to the league. Up to him to how he decides to play and that’ll factor in to how deep we go

 

[Antropovsky]

The difference is Mcdavid finished on his setup in a high pressure game Mathews doesn’t

Lol what set ups? Matthews literally set up both Marners goals.

He set up a 2v1 for Marner on goal 1.

He set up a breakaway for Marner on goal 2.

This is the best goal scorer in the world setting up Marner.

How many setups did Marner, the best playmaker in the game, do for Matthews last game?

Last game...How many breakaways did Matthews have? How many 2v1 did Matthews have?

 

[Antropovsky]

Mitch Marner will always be successful when he attacks open space, makes smart and simple plays, and doesn’t try to do everything all the time

When he retreats to the point, is flailing all over the ice trying to make everything happen, is forcing triple covered passes to shooters, he is unwatchable

Before the finals, he was a lot more of the second player I described, but the finals onwards he’s been more of the first guy.

He has both in them, and has had them since he came to the league. Up to him to how he decides to play and that’ll factor in to how deep we go

Marner has 0 5v5 point in his last 5 games. And only 1 in his past 9 games if you include 4nations.

By comparison, Mackinnon has 9 5v5 points in his past 5 games lol.

 

[francis246]

Lol what set ups? Matthews literally set up both Marners goals.

He set up a 2v1 for Marner on goal 1.

He set up a breakaway for Marner on goal 2.

This is the best goal scorer in the world setting up Marner.

How many setups did Marner, the best playmaker in the game, do for Matthews last game?

Last game...How many breakaways did Matthews have? How many 2v1 did Matthews have?

Time stamp 7:51. Matthews literally trips and falls, Marner takes the puck, drives the net and scores. Not sure what you’re talking about for Marner’s first goal. Marner scored his first goal on the PP. Matthews didn’t “set him up”

The only 2v1 that happened was in the first period short handed where Matthews hit the post.

 

[34]

He certainly has a swagger to his walk. Good to see.

 

[Antropovsky]

Time stamp 7:51. Matthews literally trips and falls, Marner takes the puck, drives the net and scores. Not sure what you’re talking about for Marner’s first goal. Marner scored his first goal on the PP. Matthews didn’t “set him up”

The only 2v1 that happened was in the first period short handed where Matthews hit the post.

Matthews trips and falls against Marchand, coincidentally while the puck travels past them?

Below is the sequence in photos. Matthews is closest to puck, but Matthews knows that he won't be able to do anything if he receives the pass because Marchand is too close...so instead he leaves the puck, bodies Marchand and just like that Marner is 2vs1 or 3v2, however you want to see it.

The casual hockey fan would definitely miss this sneaky elite play and think it wasn't intentional. But the pictures don't lie.

Matthews actually does this little move here and there.

 

[DarkKnight]

lol

It's the same Mitch. I'm sure he gained some valuable experience playing in the tourney, but it's still the same dude from 3 weeks ago.

I did watch an interview where he looked a lot more comfortable, but it was likely because it wasn't the usual a-holez trying to badger a bad take out of him.

I’d argue, it’s the maturity he’s shown all year that translated to a good showing at Four Nations.

He probably hasn't changed.. but our perception of him sure has!

Bingo!

 

[Roo]

He's been great all season.

 

[DarkKnight]

His post is always nonsense, completely ignores Marner put it in a tee for Matthews twice last night and Matthews ripped it off the post twice. It’s just been that type of season for Matthews. I’d love to see them split up. Just end the narrative.

The fact he’s fourth in scoring, despite Matty being off this year, injured, it’s even more impressive to me. Certainly, final dispelled the fiction he’s carried by others.