Player Discussion Mitch Marner, Again

[Stephen]

Just goes to show, slow, measured improvement wins the day.

Steve Yzerman was getting an ocean of unearned flack because of the appearance of a stagnating program under LaLonde. In comes a new coach and a win-streak mends all wounds and faith is suddenly restored in the Yzerplan.

It just goes to show, rare is the GM that will weather outside pressure for quicker development.

Hopefully there's a culture shift toward that type of resilience, if it's possible in this market.

Never trust a management team that hits the all in button like it’s Poker Stars year after year. The legitimate team building component has to come in the summer time and the trade deadline has to be the finishing piece, not the time to remake 30% of your team short term at hugely inflated prices.

There are always future years you need to protect and they can’t come at the expense of some instant gratification mismanagement, especially when the team isn’t ready. Didn’t appreciate Dubas. Didn’t appreciate JFJ. Didn’t appreciate Fletcher. Didn’t appreciate Burke.

End of spiel.

 

[Stephen]

I think I might have more of a soft spot for any team I've ever followed than this one. This team wins more regular season games, but the early 2010s team was infinitely more likeable. Which do I prefer? How am I supposed to pick between two incredibly shitty options? Sigh.

I do not share that sentiment. I didn’t not appreciate that 2010s team. Yes they had more heart and soul window dressing, and you soften up on some guys over the years but I did not like those guys in the moment.

 

[All Mod Cons]

I think it’s funny the whacko posters criticizing marner for being on the second PP
But crickets with matthews on the second line lol

I honestly hope Mitch goes somewhere else
As a UFA

Seems like lots of fans want him to hit UFA.

 

[1specter]

I don't think Dion was at all likeable. Wilson was the most dour coach in the league. They had that social media union with those crappy Jays teams that they called Team Unit.

Dion was awful in front of the cameras/mics and probably not cut out for that role, but he seemed like a good guy otherwise. Think his teammates generally respected / loved him otherwise, and you could never question his effort or if he gave his all. By all accounts he trained his ass off and would often play through injuries, and he was very involved with the community and did lots of philanthropy. Dude got a contract that he probably shouldn't have because we had nobody else for the job at the time, but that didn't make him a bad guy. He always took the brunt of criticism and accountability and never blamed anyone else or complained, can't fault a guy for not being able to give more than he was capable of.

I still remember when he called into Tim & Sid after they were ripping into him



Sure, the team went nowhere with Dion, but I'll always appreciate the guy for giving everything he had, even if it wasn't enough.

 

[ToneDog]

So ignore the elite defensive play, the elite setup abilities and gauge players value ONLY on how many goals they score? That is the only metric teams can use to establish a players value?

Why are you conflating a players salary and his playoff performance? Not sure I understand your logic?

What 20+ goal, small, soft, chicken, afraid of contact, playoff dud, elite defensive player with elite setup abilities is making $14m?. Good player but not a $14m player like Draisaitl and if you can't see that after watching the 3 amigos cough up fur balls for the last 7 playoffs, I got nothing.

 

[thewave]

Why is Cooper coming to Toronto or is it Mitch going to TB? Not sure which crazy conspiracy theory you are suggesting?

Is McDavid the only Center Cooper could use for his future devious evil plan to get a job in TO? You could say the same thing if he was paired with Crosby, Point, MacKinnon or Cirelli... no matter who you get at center, it is going to be an elite center out of this world player.

You do understand when you have a coach as competitive as Cooper, he's thinking about winning a Championship, tournament, what ever Gold medal is out there... he is not thinking about his bank account, these guys are ultra competitive and have massive ego's and do not tolerate losing well.

Why would Cooper want to coach in Toronto with Mitch anyway, Mitch is a soft overrated guy who cant score goals. Why would an elite HOF coach want to coach a plug? Makes no sense, you can't have it both ways.



He does? He is a point per game player the last three series, that is kinda good no?

Players do not speak ill towards other players unless they are scrubs.

Coaches do not speak ill about other teams or players because they may one day be employed by them or have to coach them.

Coaches are aware of public perception of a player. The coach will appease and if it is beneficial to compliment even deceive if need be.

A coach or organization could pump someone's tires in the hopes that the rival team overspends and hurts their competitive edge.

Managers do not comment on other players generally speaking.

Don't take the wrong way but I think you are just a little wet behind the ears with how the games are played off the ice.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I do not share that sentiment. I didn’t not appreciate that 2010s team. Yes they had more heart and soul window dressing, and you soften up on some guys over the years but I did not like those guys in the moment.

Yeah maybe I'll soften on this group down the road, who knows? Hard to imagine though but whatever, we all see things differently and that's allowed for now so ...

 

[Sypher04]

I think it’s funny the whacko posters criticizing marner for being on the second PP
But crickets with matthews on the second line lol

I honestly hope Mitch goes somewhere else
As a UFA

Both are assinine. I agree if that’s the point, but your claim no one is talking about Matthews on the “second line” is objectively untrue. We’ve had discussion here about it.

These Canada and US rosters are straight up Allstar teams. There’s no shame in being line 2 or powerplay 2 if the team themselves even consider them as such.

 

[leafs in five]

Remember when grapes used to call Wilson "little Napoleon"

 

[Stephen]

Yeah maybe I'll soften on this group down the road, who knows? Hard to imagine though but whatever, we all see things differently and that's allowed for now so ...

This current era has been disappointing but I do still remember what a breath of fresh air they were when they started compared to the Waffle Gate, 18 Wheeler era. Everything from bitter Ron Wilson, surly Randy Carlyle, senile Cliff Fletcher, blowhard Burke, whatever Nonis was. The mediocre players. Oof.

 

[notDatsyuk]

He does? He is a point per game player the last three series, that is kinda good no?

Almost a ppg in the last 3 but .5 ppg in the last two (2G 4A in 12 games)..

 

[Leaf Fans]

Marner isn’t playing in the bottom 6 roles. If he struggles where does he go. Is he going to switch with Jarvis or Hagel?

All the bottom 6 can move up. Marner is the only guy I can’t see fitting in that bottom six due to style of play.

If Marner wasn't good enough, he wouldn't be on the team.