Player Discussion Mitch Marner, Continued

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You have it backwards, Allen is better than Mahomes, so is Jackson.
You're missing the point. We're talking about leadership qualities and while that's something that's not possible to measure definitively, it would be a stretch to say Mahomes takes a back seat to anyone in that regard. They're all really good players though, if I was drafting a team to play one playoff season for me and I had 1st pick, I'd try to trade down to picking 3rd because I don't think there's much to choose from between those three guys.
I was watching game 7 of the Bruins series back and the pace was so fast that I had to double check if I had the speed set to 1.25.

Players were leaving it all on the line, hitting everything that moved. Tons of desperation.

Not Marner. Looked like he was playing game 25 of the season. Same physicality and speed as a season game. Here's him doing I don't know what on the forecheck...but the Bruin brushes him aside and clears.

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Same weak efforts he had vs Tampa. This one below leading to the game 6 game winning goal. Where once again Marner tries to poke at the puck instead of play physical:

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If you really want to make people puke, you should put together a clip of Marner in game 3 vs Florida. It doesn't get any worse than that, or if it does than I haven't seen it.
 
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Sample size was all the games in the Leafs' only playoff round in 2024.

Should rhe Leafs ask Bettman to grant Marner 82 games in Round 1? Maybe then his stats would look better?
I acknowledge that you don't like it but the math is the math. Absolutely nothing can "proven" with so little data.

Anecdotally what I remember most from the last series was those last three games. Marner played elite defensively and if he had scored that fluke goal instead of the other way around he would have been the hero and everyone around here would have loved him (or course until they lost again) .

If one fluke goal can take a hero to zero then surely the zero isn't deserved.
 
Marners job is a playmaker. Stats say he's exceptional at it while at the same time being elite defensively.
Yup, he sure is. He's super consistent too, for 86 games a year he's money in the bank. He's one of those guys you can basically pencil in for the all-star team before the season starts.

Overall he's a playoff disappointment though, so is Matthews, so is JT, and those 3 guys are at the top of my list of reasons for why we're 1-8 in playoff series with this core..
 
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Mahomes

Chiefs literally won a Super Bowl off the back of one of the worst holding calls ive ever see
He was in the Super Bowl…..in fact he was in four super bowls….and he won three super bowls.

Wouldn’t it be nice if one of the Leafs so called stars was like Josh Allen and was good enough to advanced the team in the playoffs?
 
Lot's of Rantanen talk around here today. Here are some stats:
5v5 last 3 full seasons, both players playing in all the games.

GP TOI GF GA GF%
Mikko Rantanen Nathan MacKinnon 209 2734 182 117 60.9
Mikko Rantanen w/o Nathan MacKinnon 209 717 34 46 42.5
w/o Mikko Rantanen Nathan MacKinnon 209 735 52 38 57.8
w/o Mikko Rantanen w/o Nathan MacKinnon 209 5802 224 197 53.2

site is broken see attachment

Rantanen with Mack is great.
Mack without Rantanen is still great.
The team without either is pretty good.
Rantanen without Mack is really terrible.

The playoff numbers are similar but the sample size is too small.

There could be lots of explanations for it but based on these 3 years worth of numbers it appears that Rantanen REALLY depends on Mack for his success.
Marner puts up points with anyone.
Looks like rantanen needs Mack.
Beware.
 
Marner puts up points with anyone.
Looks like rantanen needs Mack.
Beware.
Not in the playoffs. It is men vs boys in the playoffs.

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Ranta is a 100+ point playoff player. Marner is a 72 point playoff player.

Marner may never reach Ranta's 34 playoff goals.

I'll take my chances with the 6'4" 215 lbs, strong, skilled, goal scorer Ranta. Thanks.
 
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Marner puts up points with anyone.
Looks like rantanen needs Mack.
Beware.
With anyone? 5v5 He had 6 points in 14 games while Matthews was out this year and he played most of the mins with Tavares.

Since 2019, Marner has played only with Tavares and Matthews, but primarily with Matthews since 2019. I dont think he has even 100 mins since 2019 without Matthews or Tavares on his line.

He was on Domi's line for a short time when Matthews was injured, had 0 points and the line was bad... Berube eventually put Marner with Tavares and instead put Nylander with leftovers.
 
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The Toronto Maple Leafs put up a rather lackluster effort in their highly anticipated matchup against the Vancouver Canucks on Hockey Night in Canada Saturday night and following the game you could tell that the Leafs were unhappy about how they had played… most of them at least.

One Maple Leaf is being raked over the coals on Sunday for his post game comments, comments in which he praised the effort from his team in a performance that was described as lifeless by others. That Maple Leaf is none other than star forward Mitch Marner, who admittedly seemed a little detached from reality when speaking to the media about the game.

“I liked it,” said Marner when asked about the team’s level of effort. “I thought we played well, I really did. The last couple of games, we’ve been giving up plays to teams that aren’t missing on them.”

Those comments come in stark contrast to comments made by head coach Craig Berube, who apparently was watching a different game than Marner.


“We need more life and energy,” said Berube of his team’s lifeless effort.

National Hockey League veteran Chris Tanev was apparently watching the same game as his head coach, which leaves me to ask what the hell was Mitch Marner watching?

“Not good enough,” said Tanev of the Leafs’ effort. “They outworked us, outcompeted us. That’s why they won.”

This has led to much criticism being directed at Marner today both from fans and pundits alike. Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun wasted no time calling out Marner for his comments.

“Mitch Marner is delusional,” said Simmons.

Simmons wasn’t alone in his criticism, fans also jumped on Marner for his comments.
 
Matthews might go 9 games without a goal, but advanced stats say he should one of the top scorers. He's doing things right to score.

Meanwhile stats say Marner isn't scoring, and advanced stats indicate he isn't a threat and shouldn't be scoring.

See the difference?
Advance stats mean poop...no points or wins are given for advance stats, no cup is awarded for advance stats.
 
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It would honestly be better for everyone if he never gave an interview again.

Even if/when he's well meaning he always sticks his foot in his mouth
Definitely. With the benefit of hindsight, he was a poor choice to wear a letter. And this latest quote is at least a little bit concerning because as the saying goes, the first step to fixing a problem is acknowledging that there is a problem that needs fixing. Marner thinks everything is just fine, not a good sign.

I can't help but wonder if Matthews said anything to him about this - I doubt it. I also can't help but wish we had someone like the great Mark Messier for captain instead, he'd give Mitch a smack and straighten him out in a big hurry, and maybe Marner would learn his lesson and never say anything that stupid again.
 
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You're missing the point. We're talking about leadership qualities and while that's something that's not possible to measure definitively, it would be a stretch to say Mahomes takes a back seat to anyone in that regard. They're all really good players though, if I was drafting a team to play one playoff season for me and I had 1st pick, I'd try to trade down to picking 3rd because I don't think there's much to choose from between those three guys.

If you really want to make people puke, you should put together a clip of Marner in game 3 vs Florida. It doesn't get any worse than that, or if it does than I haven't seen it.
Id really like to watch game 3 FLA series back. Anyone know of networks or websites that offer replays from past playoffs? Not sure if NHL.com does.
 
Id really like to watch game 3 FLA series back. Anyone know of networks or websites that offer replays from past playoffs? Not sure if NHL.com does.

Try CBC Gem app or Sportsnet. Those two live streamed most of the playoff games in Canada. So it’s likely one of them have a reply on their app or website.

Id really like to watch game 3 FLA series back. Anyone know of networks or websites that offer replays from past playoffs? Not sure if NHL.com does.

Can’t believe I’m doing this, but I promised to be nicer in 2025 lol. I found a live replay for you. Dangle is commentating though, so probably better to watch on mute.

Or if you wanna see him lose his shit listen. I want to rewatch too lol.

 
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Definitely. With the benefit of hindsight, he was a poor choice to wear a letter. And this latest quote is at least a little bit concerning because as the saying goes, the first step to fixing a problem is acknowledging that there is a problem that needs fixing. Marner thinks everything is just fine, not a good sign.

I can't help but wonder if Matthews said anything to him about this - I doubt it. I also can't help but wish we had someone like the great Mark Messier for captain instead, he'd give Mitch a smack and straighten him out in a big hurry, and maybe Marner would learn his lesson and never say anything that stupid again.

I don’t recall Matthews really being the kind of player and now captain to take defeat so hard and put it all on himself to be responsible, dig deep and lead the way. It’s always a very even keeled, process driven, arms length from taking any specific personal blame. Maybe that’s just the modern athlete.
 
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Not in the playoffs. It is men vs boys in the playoffs.

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Ranta is a 100+ point playoff player. Marner is a 72 point playoff player.

Marner may never reach Ranta's 34 playoff goals.

I'll take my chances with the 6'4" 215 lbs, strong, skilled, goal scorer Ranta. Thanks.

Next we have to trade Matthews for someone that can create plays and pass the puck to Rantanen
 
I don’t recall Matthews really being the kind of player and now captain to take defeat so hard and put it all on himself to be responsible, dig deep and lead the way. It’s always a very even keeled, process driven, arms length from taking any specific personal blame. Maybe that’s just the modern athlete.
It’s the modern Leafs that’s for sure
 
You want to know how many browny points marner would get if he said “I want to apologize to our loyal fans for that performance tonight. It’s up to us to play a lot better especially on home ice”
He doesn’t even need to apologize. Just be realistic and honest. Stop being delusional and at least show he gives a crap once in a while.
 
I don’t recall Matthews really being the kind of player and now captain to take defeat so hard and put it all on himself to be responsible, dig deep and lead the way. It’s always a very even keeled, process driven, arms length from taking any specific personal blame. Maybe that’s just the modern athlete.

That's a main reason (for me at least) why this current group is just so.. unlikable.

You never see these guys step it up and red line the engine like previous Leafs favs Sittler, Clark, or Gilmour etc.

Sure, some guys lead by example on the ice, and some by speaking up in the room where I know we aren't privy to it as fans.. but it is awfully hard to imagine - like impossible - an Austin Matthews or any of Marner/Nylander/Mumbles Tavares doing that either.

They are all just so uninspired and entitled. Maybe I'm just reaching my old man yelling at cloud phase.
 

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