Mitch “Magic” Marner Thread

[ACC1224]

Crosby has 173 playoff games at 34 years old..

Ok, I didn't know the expecation was to pay Marner 11 million and let him grow into his contract. Damn... I need go talk to my boss.

Sounds like everyone is in agreement that he hasn't been good enough (for an 11 million dollar player) through the past 8 games.

You should be complaining in the Dubas thread if you’re unhappy with the salary. He like pretty much everyone else on the team can be better. I’ll try and find out what’s up but to me he’s obviously has some type of injury.

*** couldn’t find anything out.

 

[Gallagbi]

You should be complaining in the Dubas thread if you’re unhappy with the salary. He like pretty much everyone else on the team can be better. I’ll try and find out what’s up but to me he’s obviously has some type of injury.

I thought about an injury too, especially with him missing the final game of the year.

 

[Not My Tempo]

I think Marner has been great everywhere except the PP. He's a big reason why our PK has killed off it's last 21, and he's a big reason why the first line has scored 2 goals and allowed 0 and has 30 shots for but only 15 against. The first line is 5th in the league in GF+/- per 60 at 5v5 (among lines with 30+ minutes) and they're first in xGF +/- per 60. If Carey Price wasn't playing out of his mind, they'd be lighting up the lamp at 5v5.

Marner on the PP is kinda concerning though. He's just bobbling the puck too much when he get's pressured. I don't think it's a coincidence the PP was at it's best when we had Nylander and Matthews on a unit and Marner with a bunch of deflection heavy players. It might be too late now due to the Tavares injury, but next year maybe run:

Hyman
Nylander - whoever - Matthews
Sandin

Simmonds (pls re-sign)
Spezza - Tavares - Marner
Rielly

 

[Stephen]

I disagree that he needs to shoot more. It's kinda part of the road that got his head so confused. He needs to drive the net more and go try and make plays in dirtier areas. That will make defenders cover him. If he's on pp1 he should play the tap back position. Playing high on the boards it doesn't matter if he shoots or not.

I'm not a Marner fan by any means. I feel like his assist numbers look good and are higher than his line mates because he never scores. For instance Hyman /Matthews can make a great play, but if it goes to Marner and he shoots no one gets a point. Same nifty play that ends on Matthews stick and it's a goal. That's just my opinion. I don't find him particularly creative or dazzling. Kessel and Lupol were a much more creative and dynamic duo in their last year. I'm not saying they're better, but in the o zone they were sweet together.

Guys like Draisaitl and Kuznetsov to me make beauty passes.

I think he needs to “shoot more” in the sense that if he has the goalie beat he needs to put the puck on the net and not deke around looking for a second opening behind the net.

I think he needs to “shoot less” that he probably shouldn’t be looking off Auston Matthews if there’s a 2 on 1 situation.

Depends on what we’re talking about.

 

[ShaneFalco]

I think Marner has been great everywhere except the PP. He's a big reason why our PK has killed off it's last 21, and he's a big reason why the first line has scored 2 goals and allowed 0 and has 30 shots for but only 15 against. The first line is 5th in the league in GF+/- per 60 at 5v5 (among lines with 30+ minutes) and they're first in xGF +/- per 60. If Carey Price wasn't playing out of his mind, they'd be lighting up the lamp at 5v5.

Marner on the PP is kinda concerning though. He's just bobbling the puck too much when he get's pressured. I don't think it's a coincidence the PP was at it's best when we had Nylander and Matthews on a unit and Marner with a bunch of deflection heavy players. It might be too late now due to the Tavares injury, but next year maybe run:

Hyman
Nylander - whoever - Matthews
Sandin

Simmonds (pls re-sign)
Spezza - Tavares - Marner
Rielly

Zero PP goals all year. How does that even happen?

 

[Gallagbi]

I think he needs to “shoot more” in the sense that if he has the goalie beat he needs to put the puck on the net and not deke around looking for a second opening behind the net.

I think he needs to “shoot less” that he probably shouldn’t be looking off Auston Matthews if there’s a 2 on 1 situation.

Depends on what we’re talking about.

Basically his instincts feel wrong right now

 

[ZEBROA]

I belive him and Matt will ketchup next game.

 

[MattySnipes]

I belive him and Matt will ketchup next game.

If they play with even more mustard our fans will relish the series win even more.

 

[Folignos Helmet]

Mitch’s game borders on being too cute in regular season and that is less effective in postseason. I think he needs to learn how to slightly adjust his game and he will have more success.

 

[Antropovsky]

thoughts on Mitch Marner today (I only caught the first)? I heard the broadcast team comment that he does not have a goal in his last 15 postseason games...is he playing like he is on the cusp of knocking the monkey off his back? Still playing exceptionally well defensively, with good puck possession?

 

[ZEBROA]

I know he is great at PK but is there any other player that could take most of his workload there? We need his offence more then his Defence. And if he gets hurt we need a replace for both PK and offence. Thats a unnecessary risk.

 

[rielledup]

I disagree that he needs to shoot more. It's kinda part of the road that got his head so confused. He needs to drive the net more and go try and make plays in dirtier areas. That will make defenders cover him. If he's on pp1 he should play the tap back position. Playing high on the boards it doesn't matter if he shoots or not.

I'm not a Marner fan by any means. I feel like his assist numbers look good and are higher than his line mates because he never scores. For instance Hyman /Matthews can make a great play, but if it goes to Marner and he shoots no one gets a point. Same nifty play that ends on Matthews stick and it's a goal. That's just my opinion. I don't find him particularly creative or dazzling. Kessel and Lupol were a much more creative and dynamic duo in their last year. I'm not saying they're better, but in the o zone they were sweet together.

Guys like Draisaitl and Kuznetsov to me make beauty passes.

Strangest/dumbest post I've seen on here in a long time. Marner is one of the most creative players and best playmakers in the league, you either don't actually watch or don't know what you're watching.

 

[Atomos2]

I know he is great at PK but is there any other player that could take most of his workload there? We need his offence more then his Defence. And if he gets hurt we need a replace for both PK and offence. Thats a unnecessary risk.

He looks tired out there. Like really tired. Understandably so, but his offense is taking a massive hit.

 

[CupcakeSprinkles]

Hyman-Matthews-Marner line has been snake bitten this series. Price has been outstanding, and Montreal defense has done a good job of double team Matthews/Marner. I'm not overly concerned with the lack of production given we're winning games. Mitch has been our best PK'er and has created absolute magic on the PP. I think his issue on the PP is having Kaberle pass syndrome.. he should start letting some shots rip instead of predictably setting up Matthews.

They've been robbed point blank a couple times by a world class goalie.. points don't tell the story here.

 

[Holymakinaw]

How's Matthews doing in the post season? I don't see him taking any heat for his post season play. How come?

He had an 18.5% shooting percentage all year long, as he scored goals at a 66 goal "pace". Now in this series, in spite of a LOT of shots, he's shooting at a 4.3% percentage and has just 1 goal and 3 points(same as Marner) in 4 games. Last post season, he shot just 7.4%. Should we be super worried? Forget about Mitch, our #1 overall pick "ain't getting it done"!!!

Or maybe the other team's entire strategy is to shut down our top line and try to hit the crap out of us and that's why these two are scoring less and guys like Nylander are scoring more. All attention is on Matthews and Marner. Shocking, I know.

Personally I'll give Matthews a pass here. He's playing great D and hitting guys and we're winning.

The offence will come at some point. If it doesn't? Well, they better keep playing great D then, hadn't they?

What;'s that? Appreciate what we have? OMG, NO!!

 

[Nylander88]

Thought he looked like he was turning a corner last night. His best game this series as far as my eye test goes. Hyman as well looked to be a little more his old self. Great effort always, but not as much result in the first few games off of injury

 

[VanW27]

Thought he looked like he was turning a corner last night. His best game this series as far as my eye test goes. Hyman as well looked to be a little more his old self. Great effort always, but not as much result in the first few games off of injury

I thought the same thing, couldn't quite find the scoresheet but was definitely the most dangerous he's been in the series.

 

[DarkKnight]

This happened right after he blocked a shot off his shin, then took the puck out of our zone. Led all forwards in ice time for a shutout win.

 

[Holymakinaw]

This happened right after he blocked a shot off his shin, then took the puck out of our zone. Led all forwards in ice time for a shutout win.

No.

Don't point out all the good things Marner does. Focus only on the negative.

 

[Gallagbi]

How's Matthews doing in the post season? I don't see him taking any heat for his post season play. How come?

He had an 18.5% shooting percentage all year long, as he scored goals at a 66 goal "pace". Now in this series, in spite of a LOT of shots, he's shooting at a 4.3% percentage and has just 1 goal and 3 points(same as Marner) in 4 games. Last post season, he shot just 7.4%. Should we be super worried? Forget about Mitch, our #1 overall pick "ain't getting it done"!!!

Or maybe the other team's entire strategy is to shut down our top line and try to hit the crap out of us and that's why these two are scoring less and guys like Nylander are scoring more. All attention is on Matthews and Marner. Shocking, I know.

Personally I'll give Matthews a pass here. He's playing great D and hitting guys and we're winning.

The offence will come at some point. If it doesn't? Well, they better keep playing great D then, hadn't they?

What;'s that? Appreciate what we have? OMG, NO!!

Matthews is driving play and creating far more chances. Last night for the first time the roles were reversed and Marner was carrying the offensive load in generating chances for them.

Good to see from Mitch, I thought that was the best he has played, especially in that first period, in some time for playoffs

 

[VanW27]

No.

Don't point out all the good things Marner does. Focus only on the negative.

There is this weird thing here where criticizing Marner in any way seems to be taken as some type of attack and he should be defended loudly, profusely and at all costs. There are certainly some posters who seem to relish the idea of him underperforming or are searching for opportunities to criticize which is also super weird (like why do you do this people?).

But in general the the criticism has been pretty measured, he's been good, doing the little things, working hard, strong defensively and on the PK but he hasn't been great, hasn't dominated or created chances like he has capable of. I'm not sure what the problem is that people have with expecting your top 5 scorer, 11 million dollar player to perform as an elite level player in the playoffs. He has another level he can get to, if we want make a serious run he needs to find it (not just him). Last night was a step in the right direction.

 

[Stephen]

This happened right after he blocked a shot off his shin, then took the puck out of our zone. Led all forwards in ice time for a shutout win.

Yeah that level of physical play is definitely what you want to see out of Marner in situations where he can finish a hit. Great to see that on top of his defensive work.

 

[acrobaticgoalie]

So I was just listening to this week's episode of Spittin chiclets before my shift starts and they have Doug Gilmour on as a guest. They asked him about if the current Leafs players ever call him up for advice and he said "actually, both Mitch and his Dad Paul called me up after the incident with Babcock. They wanted out of there". Doug said he kinda calmed them down a bit about the situation but he said they were not happy.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

So I was just listening to this week's episode of Spittin chiclets before my shift starts and they have Doug Gilmour on as a guest. They asked him about if the current Leafs players ever call him up for advice and he said "actually, both Mitch and his Dad Paul called me up after the incident with Babcock. They wanted out of there". Doug said he kinda calmed them down a bit about the situation but he said they were not happy.

Babs as da responsible adult with years of pro coaching experience did not handle da Paul issue well with Mitch as a rook .. it was not just one incident which was reported public .. now from very personal experience as one of Mitch's former spring coaches as a kid it is a difficult situation to deal with as Paul used to coach Mitch post game and practices with video tapes .. I know of no other parent who coaches his kid like Paul and I have seen them all .. I am not saying it was easy but it should have been better handled by Babs .. it is never a good thing when you are battling with a parent for control of coaching .. Lou did what he could to cover Babs too .. it was much more than Paul could handle so good on Killer for being an outlet .. Paul has completely backed off once Mitch got his contract .. in fact he is hardly ever even around anymore which will help Mitch too

 

[zeke]

So I was just listening to this week's episode of Spittin chiclets before my shift starts and they have Doug Gilmour on as a guest. They asked him about if the current Leafs players ever call him up for advice and he said "actually, both Mitch and his Dad Paul called me up after the incident with Babcock. They wanted out of there". Doug said he kinda calmed them down a bit about the situation but he said they were not happy.

Whoa