Regarding the Marner being overused on PK comment by Berube.. yea, you have to work with what you are given. This is what hes given:
13.5 Matthews
11.5 Nylander
11 Tavares
10.893 Marner
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3.7 Domi
2.4 Kampf
2.1 Jarnkrok
1.35 McMann
1.3 Reaves
1.1 Dewar
.925 Knies
.875 Robertson
.873 Patches
Berube is playing Marner with Matthews because it’s the best fit for the roster - shooter with passer, and who can play center (Nylander with Domi, Tavares centering the third line, Matthews with Marner). Also, to make this roster successful, Berube absolutely needs Marner to produce, and Marner's mental struggles are well-documented. last thing Berube needs is for one of his 11+ million players to have a bad year. So it makes sense that he is gonna do whatever he can do get Marner producing and rolling. Even Keefe last year pointed out how Marner has lows every season where he struggles and they need to get him out of the funks. Which meant always putting him back wuth Matthews, even when Matthews was rolling with other lines.
Recall, however, that by the end of Keefe’s tenure, when playoff success became the measuring stick, his preference was to separate Matthews and Marner. And similarly towards the end of Dubas’ time, there were reports that he wanted to move Marner.
Berube’s short-term focus makes sense for this teams short term success, but it probably means the same postseason results. Additionally, having Marner propped up by Matthews in a contract year is not good for the team long term.
Maybe playing Marner without Matthews for a whole year would give a better understanding to what his real value is on the market.