My guess is this year will be different if the Leafs are healthy in the playoffs.
The Little m cannot make space, he cannot drive though defense, but we saw an example last night what the team can do if the next crop of players are in the line-up.
While McMann isn't a kid, he was certainly missed the past playoffs. If Knies, McMann, Grebenkin are in the line-up space will be created, or these 3 will drive through the checking and be able to take advantage of the playmaking ability of marner.
What would be even better is if Matthews is on another line and marner doesn't castrate his game looking for 34.
Not comparing any Leafs player to Gretzky, but Gretzky never won a Cup without Messier. Even Gretz needed help, and that help was Messier and Fraser.
...
That was an olde tyme game last night, and the good guys came out on top.