Mitch “Magic” Marner Thread

[ToneDog]

Hard to get apples when 34 not scoring. My concern is that 34 has not even been a serious threat. That has to change.

 

[meefer]

Mitch Marner is playing some wonderful PK for us.
Mitch Marner is setting up his Matthews to the point where Matthews sits 4th in total shots this playoffs having played 1 less game than the 3 above him. Matthews is shooting 4%
Mitch Marner's 2nd lineman, Z. Hyman, sits 34th in total shots, also one less game played, shooting 6.3%
Combined, the fellas that Marner's job is to set up to score (that's his special skill isn't it?) have 41 shots on goal in 5 games. Combined, they have 2 goals. Matthews regular season shooting percentage was 18.5%, Hyman's was 13%, and for the record Mitch's was 12.8%.

While I think it is understandable to be disappointed in Marner's production to date, I'd suggest that it might be a little over the top to suggest he's played horribly when the thing that he does best he continues to do, but the line mates he has aren't producing in the way we are used to seeing. Heck, didn't Zach miss an empty net the other day

Were Matthews and Hyman scoring at comparable rates to their regular season, I think it reasonable to assume that Marner would have 2 more assists (at least) and were Marner to be scoring at his usual rate he'd have 1 goal as he's registered 14 shots to date. 3 more points and Marner sits with 7 points, tied for 8th overall in these playoffs.

I am not trying to praise Marner, or suggest he's been the best ever. But, can we admit that a little context helps us better understand what is happening? The line as a whole is not producing. That needs to change, and should based on their previous 56 games.

My only concern is Price. When he gets it into his head that certain players are not going to beat him...

 

[supermann_98]

Marner needs to seriously step up his game...a big disappointment so far these playoffs considering how much he gets paid...his contract was an overpayment and was always going to be hard for him to live up to it. Need him to take Montreal to the cleaners in game 6.

Kucherov: 6 games, 3 goals, 11 points
Point: 6 games, 4 goals, 6 points
Rantanen: 4 games, 1 goal, 7 points
Aho: 6 games, 5 goals, 7 points
Marner: 5 games, 0 goals, 4 points

And this is not evening looking back at last year's post-season.

He's been absolute garbage this series, making more money and contributing less than all of his comparables. Afraid to shoot because his shot is that of an 8th grader, zero creativity because he's afraid of the Habs big Dmen.

But hey, at least he's good with the kids in the community right? He's so valuable to the team in that respect

 

[Peasy]

I don't pay much attention to the media but have any of them commented on the fact that hes gone 16 straight without a single goal?

Because I know if this was the case for other players, we wouldn't hear the end of it.

Mitch Marner is playing some wonderful PK for us.
Mitch Marner is setting up his Matthews to the point where Matthews sits 4th in total shots this playoffs having played 1 less game than the 3 above him. Matthews is shooting 4%
Mitch Marner's 2nd lineman, Z. Hyman, sits 34th in total shots, also one less game played, shooting 6.3%
Combined, the fellas that Marner's job is to set up to score (that's his special skill isn't it?) have 41 shots on goal in 5 games. Combined, they have 2 goals. Matthews regular season shooting percentage was 18.5%, Hyman's was 13%, and for the record Mitch's was 12.8%.

While I think it is understandable to be disappointed in Marner's production to date, I'd suggest that it might be a little over the top to suggest he's played horribly when the thing that he does best he continues to do, but the line mates he has aren't producing in the way we are used to seeing. Heck, didn't Zach miss an empty net the other day

Were Matthews and Hyman scoring at comparable rates to their regular season, I think it reasonable to assume that Marner would have 2 more assists (at least) and were Marner to be scoring at his usual rate he'd have 1 goal as he's registered 14 shots to date. 3 more points and Marner sits with 7 points, tied for 8th overall in these playoffs.

I am not trying to praise Marner, or suggest he's been the best ever. But, can we admit that a little context helps us better understand what is happening? The line as a whole is not producing. That needs to change, and should based on their previous 56 games.

My only concern is Price. When he gets it into his head that certain players are not going to beat him...

Whats the context behind 0 goals in 16 straight playoff games?

 

[NiagaraKraken]

I get the argument Matthews hasn’t finished a lot of Marner’s passes.... but he gets paid 11m to not just be Matthews set up man. Getting paid 11m means you need to be playing at a high level every night in every situation, especially in the playoffs.

 

[Gallagbi]

I get the argument Matthews hasn’t finished a lot of Marner’s passes.... but he gets paid 11m to not just be Matthews set up man. Getting paid 11m means you need to be playing at a high level every night in every situation, especially in the playoffs.

I don't get the argument because Matthews isn't being setup much at all.

 

[NiagaraKraken]

I don't get the argument because Matthews isn't being setup much at all.

Fair enough. 11m dollar player needs to do it all nightly, regardless of what’s going on around him.

 

[Stinger8]

I think the formula to neutralize Marner has been uncovered. Play him physically, keep him to the outside and he becomes a decent player, definitely not an $11MM dollar player. He has to get his shyte together fast

 

[Not My Tempo]

I think the formula to neutralize Marner has been uncovered. Play him physically, keep him to the outside and he becomes a decent player, definitely not an $11MM dollar player. He has to get his shyte together fast

I don’t even think it’s play him physically. I think cover Matthews (who himself hasn’t been good) and let Marner stick handle and overpass all he wants, he’ll shut himself down. Marner has probably given up 5 or more grade A scoring chances this series by trying to hold onto the puck for 2 seconds longer than he has to.

 

[AndyWozniewski]

How many times this series has Marner held the puck too long in a prime scoring area, only to have it stripped away? Seems it happens on every rush.

 

[WTFMAN99]

How many times this series has Marner held the puck too long in a prime scoring area, only to have it stripped away? Seems it happens on every rush.

He hasn't been making decisions quick enough or trying to buy time that simply isn't there.

A lot of goals that happen in the play offs are off bang bang plays, quick.

 

[socko]

The entire top line has been a disappointment. Singling out Marner while ignoring Matthews and Hymans pathetic performances isn't correct.

I wouldn't include Hyman in that discussion. He makes $2.5 million per year and is coming back from injury. Matthews play has been completely unacceptable.

Marner, on his best day, isn't worth $11.

 

[OppositeLocK]

He's so magical he vanishes entirely for the playoffs.

 

[93WrapAround]

How many times this series has Marner held the puck too long in a prime scoring area, only to have it stripped away? Seems it happens on every rush.

To be fair, this is how his line scored last night, held the puck long enough to draw Price way out of position and got a nice bounce shoveling it behind Price in front of the net.

I think the bigger problem I've seen from Marner is just the absolute weak shot attempts at net - I know he doesn't have the hardest shot but it's been maddening seeing most of his attempts go right into Price's chest. There also seems to be a lack of creativity he normally has, which may be due in part to having less space out there to operate. Matthews certainly has to take his share of the criticism as well.

 

[Mitch Matthews]

The problem is not Marner, nor is the problem Matthews. Montreal is playing them both very tight which is fine. How do you counter that? Easy, the D men need to get more involved on the rush. Unfortunately, the Leafs don't have that type of offensively skilled D man. A McAvoy. Leafs have a decent D, but come playoff time you need more from your D than just getting to the center ice line and dumping it in

 

[OppositeLocK]

Marner is a prime example of why the NHL shouldn't have guaranteed contracts.

 

[Stephen]

Marner often finds himself in a scoring chance in the slot with a partial look and instead of shooting the puck he drifts behind the net looking to replicate the Gilmour play in 1993 like he’s playing against the Oshawa Generals.

 

[Trapper]

I get the argument Matthews hasn’t finished a lot of Marner’s passes.... but he gets paid 11m to not just be Matthews set up man. Getting paid 11m means you need to be playing at a high level every night in every situation, especially in the playoffs.

And scoring your own goals.
Like Nylander.

 

[WTFMAN99]

The problem is not Marner, nor is the problem Matthews. Montreal is playing them both very tight which is fine. How do you counter that? Easy, the D men need to get more involved on the rush. Unfortunately, the Leafs don't have that type of offensively skilled D man. A McAvoy. Leafs have a decent D, but come playoff time you need more from your D than just getting to the center ice line and dumping it in

I wouldn't blame our D.

They have 10 points in this series, Montreal's D has 0 pts.

 

[ToneDog]

Marner often finds himself in a scoring chance in the slot with a partial look and instead of shooting the puck he drifts behind the net looking to replicate the Gilmour play in 1993 like he’s playing against the Oshawa Generals.

He has no confidence in his shot IMO. Many compare him to Kane but Kane can also score.

 

[theTTC]

I wanna hear from Mitch's dad right now... Mr. Marner?

 

[3blizzard4]

We could see his indecisiveness in game 1 and it has carried over through each game since then.

 

[3blizzard4]

I wanna hear from Mitch's dad right now... Mr. Marner?

I want to hear Dregs today on Marner.

 

[Mitch Matthews]

I wouldn't blame our D.

They have 10 points in this series, Montreal's D has 0 pts.

Just saying, it's obvious that the Habs decided they are not going to allow Matthews or Marner to beat them and people should not get upset with them. If the other three players on the ice with matthews and marner don't get more involved than it is what it is. So far this series, those three players are just standing around looking at Marner and Matthews to do everything

 

[ryno23]

I don’t even think it’s play him physically. I think cover Matthews (who himself hasn’t been good) and let Marner stick handle and overpass all he wants, he’ll shut himself down. Marner has probably given up 5 or more grade A scoring chances this series by trying to hold onto the puck for 2 seconds longer than he has to.

That is spot on. He passes up grade A chances for a more highlight reel play. He needs to understand pucks on the net is what the playoffs are all about. Greasy goals count as 1 just like highlight reel Harlem Globetrotter ones do.

Get pucks on net and watch Hyman create havoc and Matthew pick up the garbage