Player Discussion Mitch Marner, Continued

[thewave]

This is hilarious, coming from the Benoit is amazing and Reaves deserves a spot...

Others are blind if they don't agree that Marner has adapted to the system, while you also state that he hasn't adapted to it?

He's still circling and playing cute, but he's changed? Make up your mind.

He is playing the opposite of straight-line dump-and-chase hockey and it is working because his greatest strength is hockey IQ, I am sure Berube sees this and it is why he hasn't been limiting him, so kudos to him.

He has the highest giveaways per 60 of his career currently, which makes sense because he always has the puck on his stick and is playing "cute" aka good hockey, which is good.

"less turnovers" is turning the puck over now more than ever.



No, DarkKnight just has no clue what he is saying the majority of the time, he states an opinion and runs when presented with facts.

There is only one thing that matters in 2025. Stanley Cup victory.

 

[Dekes For Days]

you can see less turnovers (and the stats clearly show a big drop off, relative to past years).

Marner's giveaway rate this year is actually the worst of his career...

It's taken by some as a backhanded criticism of the previous regime when really it's just a different approach.

It's meant by some as a backhanded criticism of the previous regime, when really it's just a slightly different approach. An approach that hasn't actually worked any better.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Little off-topic but does anybody find it somewhat funny reporters keep asking questions to opposing players about Marner?

Like a random-ass reporter just casually walks up to Roman Josi and Luke Schenn and drops a Marner question.

It's only funny to me cuz fans are starting to pick up it.

They've been given their marching orders to promote Marner before they justify the re-signing of him to a ridiculous number, selling jerseys and collecting playoff disappointments It's the Leaf tradition 57 years and counting.

Some are even promoting the re-acquiring of Kadri to get the entire old gang back again so they can lose and get older together. The nostalgic reunion of happier times when potential was oozing.

It's Cup or bust. Cup Final at minimum or bust.

Marner isn't alone in this criticism. Add Matthews, Nylander, JT and Reilly to this. The argument that it was coaching or personnel is absurd. How do you teach a player to sacrifice it all to win?

You cannot.

This is how Cups are won. You sacrifice everything, you take your bumps getting to the front, screening, winning battles along the boards. You want it more, like anything in life. They have enough in the back end to keep pucks out, they are going to continue to have a hard time scoring, which is why Knies and McMann in particular are important. They DO sacrifice.

This core needed to be broken up after the Habs series. Berube should spend his nights watching every game in every series they have lost and determine who wanted it more. He will better understand how this is going to look in a few months.

This isn't negativity, it's the brutal reality from the less naive. This experiment is 9 years in, this is their third coach. What could a coach say or demand that would change anything when the big chips are in the middle?

 

[DarkKnight]

Marner is normally top ten in league in turnovers, top 5 takeaways, year after year. This year 4th in takeaways, 54th in giveaways.

Hello in there.

 

[notbias]

Marner is normally top ten in league in turnovers, top 5 takeaways, year after year. This year 4th in takeaways, 54th in giveaways.

Hello in there.

Doubling down on being wrong is a bold strategy.

Highest giveaways/60 of his career currently.

 

[DarkKnight]

Marner's giveaway rate this year is actually the worst of his career...

It's meant by some as a backhanded criticism of the previous regime, when really it's just a slightly different approach. An approach that hasn't actually worked any better.

Giveaways per 60 he's 187! You're such a Dubas/Keefe joke homer dude, zero credibility here and you still post like you're a serious contributor. It's laughably obtuse.

 

[notbias]

Giveaways per 60 he's 187! You're such a Dubas joke homer dude, zero credibility here and you still post like you're a serious contributor. It's laughably obtuse.

So you said he is giving away the puck less than usual, yet he is giving it away more than usual.

So to combat this you are now comparing him vs the league instead of himself like you did in your first post?

Attack the poster and change the argument, it's a good strategy.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Marner is normally top ten in league in turnovers

He's been top 10 in only 2 years of his career. Swing and a miss again.

Giveaways per 60 he's 187!

Yeah, because it's early in the season when there's a lot more variance, and you're including players with like 5 minutes of ice time on the season. I'm not sure why you think ranking is relevant here anyway. Your claim was that the system was making him turn over the puck less than previous versions of himself; not anything to do with other players around the league. But his giveaway rate is actually the highest of his career.

2016-2017: 2.87
2017-2018: 2.23
2018-2019: 2.47
2019-2020: 3.34
2020-2021: 3.35
2021-2022: 2.51
2022-2023: 3.31
2023-2024: 2.45
2024-2025: 3.66

It's okay to admit that you were wrong and posting incorrect information to pump up Berube. You don't need to resort to personal attacks.

 

[DarkKnight]

Actually Marner finished 25th last year in turnovers, he dropped with his injury last year, was top ten prior. This year 54th in league, seems pretty self evident.

He's clearly tidied up his game. Who needs to pump up Berube, everyone that follows the team agrees, some Dubist refugees and a nobody on permanent ignore don't matter. We are much better defensively. Go hug your Holl jersey.

 

[DarkKnight]

From 2018-19 season until 2023-24 season, Marner is 9th in turnovers league wide. Swing and a miss lol.

And I have argued in the past the top turnover guys are a who's who of the NHL, it's partially who has the puck. Drais 1, Barzal 2, Pasta 3 for example.

 

[GoonieFace]

He's been real good and doing what Willie did a year ago playing to cash in but let's not fool ourselves. Games versus sad sack Hawks and Preds this time of the year do not compare to a 7 game series in the playoffs. The NHL is the no hit league from September to April for most of these smaller, skilled players. You may want to wait until the playoffs before making such a prediction.

I’ve been duped before, won’t let it happen again.

Mitch is playing lights out no doubt, I like his willingness to enagage, which was nonexistent in the past. Is it Berube? Is it desire to get paid? Who really knows. I will gladly suck on it if he delivers when it matters. Here’s hoping.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Actually Marner finished 25th last year in turnovers, he dropped with his injury last year, was top ten prior.

Actually, Marner finished tied for 32nd last year. When he went down to injury last year, he was tied for 20th, not top ten.
Swing and a miss two more times. I think you're past a strikeout.
And of course, ranking is still an irrelevant deflection, because your comment was about a comparison to past versions of Marner, not the rest of the current league.

Attack the poster and change the argument, it's a good strategy.

Seems to be all they have. This isn't even all that important of a stat. You'd think he could just admit that he was wrong.

 

[thewave]

I’ve been duped before, won’t let it happen again.

Mitch is playing lights out no doubt, I like his willingness to enagage, which was nonexistent in the past. Is it Berube? Is it desire to get paid? Who really knows. I will gladly suck on it if he delivers when it matters. Here’s hoping.

Didn't you see him stick his ugly mug into the action. Pretty sure he got face washed. The wife must have been super excited to see him be all manly like haha

If I had a mug like Marner I wouldn't give a darn about saving my face. Probably go for that toothless crooked nose look what with the scars thing.

On a serious note glad he is playing Berube hockey as best he can.

 

[Mess]

“He’s the guy to play with out there, he’s the guy that drives play”. AM

Batman loved his little sidekick Robin, couldn't have done it without him even in the comics.

That is symbolic only kind of the way I see the Matthews/Marner relationship and connection on the Leafs.. Matthews as "Batman" the big powerful Rocket Richard trophy winner leading the league in goals as one of the best goalscorers & players in the game today, and then his little sidekick Marner as "Robin", his loyal companion always at his side, comparing himself to Batman even in salary. But Auston will say he couldn't have done it without Mitch.

When compared to REAL life results ...

Auston Matthews awards as Best in the game.

& Marner awards .....

.. But just wait until the 2024-25 playoffs for Marner to shine.

PS. But this is what should be on the Marner resume just like another smaller former London Knight RWer in Patty Kane to deserve the "Praise & Salary" he receives. IMO

 

[DarkKnight]

Batman loved his little sidekick Robin, couldn't have done it without him even in the comics.

View attachment 940291

That is symbolic only kind of the way I see the Matthews/Marner relationship and connection on the Leafs.. Matthews as "Batman" the big powerful Rocket Richard trophy winner leading the league in goals as one of the best goalscorers in the game today and then his little sidekick Marner as "Robin", his loyal companion always at his side, comparing himself to Batman even in salary. But Auston will say he couldn't have done it without Mitch.

When compared to REAL life results ...

Auston Matthews awards as Best in the game.

View attachment 940292 View attachment 940293

& Marner awards .....

View attachment 940296 .. But just wait until the 2024-25 playoffs for Marner to shine.

PS. But this is what should be on the Marner resume just like another smaller former London Knight RWer in Patty Kane to deserve the "Praise & Salary" he receives. IMO

View attachment 940300

Be better Mess.

 

[Fogelhund]

Marner has been absolutely elite on this stretch.. best Leaf, particularly in Matthews absence..... and then there is always that... ya but, playoffs.... Hopefully Berube's influence can see this version of Mitch, when we need him most. Same with Matthews.... two absolutely elite guys, time to be elite when it matters.

 

[BraveCanadian]

all summer people were posting literally every day that Marner was trash and to trade him and he’ll never fit in with Berube blah blah..

The Leafs don’t trade him, they will resign him, he’s carrying the team and the new coach plays him as the first option in all situations.. but the Marner supporters were “hiding” lol.. what a take.

Marner still needs a big playoff under his belt, no doubt, but that is the same for everyone on the team and it is more clear now than ever just how irrational the haters were and are..

 

[1specter]

Batman loved his little sidekick Robin, couldn't have done it without him even in the comics.

View attachment 940291

That is symbolic only kind of the way I see the Matthews/Marner relationship and connection on the Leafs.. Matthews as "Batman" the big powerful Rocket Richard trophy winner leading the league in goals as one of the best goalscorers & players in the game today, and then his little sidekick Marner as "Robin", his loyal companion always at his side, comparing himself to Batman even in salary. But Auston will say he couldn't have done it without Mitch.

When compared to REAL life results ...

Auston Matthews awards as Best in the game.

View attachment 940292 View attachment 940293

& Marner awards .....

View attachment 940296 .. But just wait until the 2024-25 playoffs for Marner to shine.

PS. But this is what should be on the Marner resume just like another smaller former London Knight RWer in Patty Kane to deserve the "Praise & Salary" he receives. IMO

View attachment 940300 View attachment 940302

Why are you using photoshopped photos? That picture is Matthews face superimposed over McDavid's. How is anyone supposed to take you seriously when you can't even figure that out?

This was Matthews when he won his awards

 

[thewave]

Marner has been absolutely elite on this stretch.. best Leaf, particularly in Matthews absence..... and then there is always that... ya but, playoffs.... Hopefully Berube's influence can see this version of Mitch, when we need him most. Same with Matthews.... two absolutely elite guys, time to be elite when it matters.

One of the most important things is that Berube is not stapling Nylander with AM or JT and Marner with AM.

The few times they switch it up it seems to get them moving. Keefe the potato just had puzzled looks and would drive a line off a cliff

 

[Roo]

Marner is a different player this year than he was last year. Part of it is Berube, a lot is maturity. He still has to prove he can do it in the playoffs.

I'm not going to disagree here, but the team has to prove they can do it in the playoffs. Fans and media are always looking for a scapegoat, but it's team performance that matters, not individual. I'll take MM generating 5pts in a 7-game series if he's creating or scoring the series clincher.

 

[ACC1224]

Batman loved his little sidekick Robin, couldn't have done it without him even in the comics.

View attachment 940291

That is symbolic only kind of the way I see the Matthews/Marner relationship and connection on the Leafs.. Matthews as "Batman" the big powerful Rocket Richard trophy winner leading the league in goals as one of the best goalscorers & players in the game today, and then his little sidekick Marner as "Robin", his loyal companion always at his side, comparing himself to Batman even in salary. But Auston will say he couldn't have done it without Mitch.

When compared to REAL life results ...

Auston Matthews awards as Best in the game.

View attachment 940292 View attachment 940293

& Marner awards .....

View attachment 940296 .. But just wait until the 2024-25 playoffs for Marner to shine.

PS. But this is what should be on the Marner resume just like another smaller former London Knight RWer in Patty Kane to deserve the "Praise & Salary" he receives. IMO

View attachment 940300 View attachment 940302

You made more sense when you were projecting Plus/Minus.

 

[Dekes For Days]

You made more sense when you were projecting Plus/Minus.

Is zero more than zero?

 

[thusk]

The biggest change in Marner game is the system...

I always said than Marner was a better player under Babcock than Keefe and i never had any doubt than he would be the player with the best positive impact with xoach change with John Tavares and its exactly what we saw..

Marner strenght look even higher under Berube or Babcock because they fit more in north/south system.

The same way Matthew Tkachuk was looking much better in Florida, especially coming playoff time because he's fit pretty well on Paul Maurice system.

For me Marner is the heart of the team and Berube just help im to simplify his game a luttle bit more by being more direct , that's the only change in his game.
When he' overthinking, hes becoming predictable but when he just goes there and play hard, all the good thing happening.

 

[diceman934]

Just love that the people who attack Marner are still at it despite overwhelming evidence that the Leafs need him. He has carried the team and is in the top 5 in NHL scoring while doing so. The Leafs will and should resign him as he is very important to the teams success. JT is again reaping the benefits of playing with him.

 

[notbias]

The biggest change in Marner game is the system...

I always said than Marner was a better player under Babcock than Keefe and i never had any doubt than he would be the player with the best positive impact with xoach change with John Tavares and its exactly what we saw..

Marner strenght look even higher under Berube or Babcock because they fit more in north/south system.

The same way Matthew Tkachuk was looking much better in Florida, especially coming playoff time because he's fit pretty well on Paul Maurice system.

For me Marner is the heart of the team and Berube just help im to simplify his game a luttle bit more by being more direct , that's the only change in his game.
When he' overthinking, hes becoming predictable but when he just goes there and play hard, all the good thing happening.

He's playing east-west and holding onto the puck a lot...

He's also still creative and making the "cute" plays.

He's playing like he always does, he's just playing really well right now.