Confirmed with Link: Mitch Marner Discussion Thread II - First Team All-Star

[zeke]

What was the return and how did we use the 11 million in cap space?

Iirc it was going to be a cap dump because no team wanted that anchor contract.

 

[DarkKnight]

That's a very good sign IMO!!

It really is, we’ve never seen this from Mitch before, bodes well this playoffs will be different, he’s aware of what he needs to do and gaining confidence with physical play.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Wonder where the Leafs and Matthews would be right now if Marner had been traded last summer, like many posters wanted ?

Dont think anyone really WANTED him traded just looked like the only option if we have to move one of the big contracts because Matthews isnt being moved and Tavares with his full NTC
really only left Marner
seems to me the best option to just keep doing what Dubas has been filling the team with low contracts
but yes not moving him was 100% the right move

 

[Gary Nylund]

It really is, we’ve never seen this from Mitch before, bodes well this playoffs will be different, he’s aware of what he needs to do and gaining confidence with physical play.

Yeah 100%, the best thing about this IMO is not that his hits are going to grind down the opposition or anything, it's that it's a sign of confidence, fearlessness and commitment. What was that comment after losing game 1 that one time? I think he said he wasn't "engaged", puke. It feels like that's the last time we will see that version of Marner and it's the confident, physically engaged Marner that's running the show from here on in.

I just love this version of Marner to bits (as I'm sure we all do) and I will love him even more if he plays like this in the playoffs and I do believe he will. GLG!!

Dont think anyone really WANTED him traded just looked like the only option if we have to move one of the big contracts because Matthews isnt being moved and Tavares with his full NTC
really only left Marner
seems to me the best option to just keep doing what Dubas has been filling the team with low contracts
but yes not moving him was 100% the right move

Exactly, very well put. It's just so ridiculous to say people "WANTED" him traded, it's just that, well just like you said. And everyone is always available as far as I'm concerned, it's just a question of what the return is. It would have taken a hell of a lot to pry Marner away from us last summer (though I was definitely open to moving him) and it would take even more now. If he fades away and ends the playoffs crying in the penalty box then I'm sure the possibility of him being traded will come up again but I don't think anyone expects that happen. More likely is that Marner will be a Maple Leaf for at least the next decade or so, an maybe for his entire career. GLG!!

 

[ACC1224]

It really is, we’ve never seen this from Mitch before, bodes well this playoffs will be different, he’s aware of what he needs to do and gaining confidence with physical play.

Hopefully it rubs off on Willie ‘FlyBy’ Nylander

 

[Dekes For Days]

It's funny to see people try and revise history and pretend they didn't want him traded. Most people here wanted him traded last offseason, and often for ridiculously horrible returns. There are certainly some interesting quotes we could pull up. Those same people would be here now blasting Dubas for trading away one of the league's best players, especially when he inevitably goes on to dominate the playoffs throughout his career.

There is no realistic trade of Marner that would make us better. He is a special, rare player and is so impactful in every way in every game state. It would have been one of the worst decisions in a century of Leaf history, and we've had some doozies.

 

[bax]

Dont think anyone really WANTED him traded just looked like the only option if we have to move one of the big contracts because Matthews isnt being moved and Tavares with his full NTC
really only left Marner
seems to me the best option to just keep doing what Dubas has been filling the team with low contracts
but yes not moving him was 100% the right move

Go back to the Habs series and skim through most threads right through to the end of summer. There were pitchforks out. I understand the contract part of it but there were tons of people who wanted him gone because of his lack of playoff success.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Go back to the Habs series and skim through most threads right through to the end of summer. There were pitchforks out. I understand the contract part of it but there were tons of people who wanted him gone because of his lack of playoff success.

I remember them. And I'm still right.
If you go back to that time and put offers out I doubt many would have accepted
People say things when they are pissed

 

[bax]

I remember them. And I'm still right.
If you go back to that time and put offers out I doubt many would have accepted
People say things when they are pissed

That’s definitely a valid point for most.

 

[Pi]

What was the return and how did we use the 11 million in cap space?

I wanted Marner traded but not for scraps. I think it was a perfect opportunity to get Eichel.

Defensively and offensively, Eichel has been great with Vegas and it would give us 3 lines that no one can realistically match up against.

But keep in mind, the criticism against Marner has never been about his regular season. It's about the playoffs where he's got more puck over glass penalties than goals in recent years.

 

[Dreakmur]

Iirc it was going to be a cap dump because no team wanted that anchor contract.

Then we would be worse. If we want to discuss something reasonable instead of some horseshit straw man, that’s probably a better idea.

 

[zeke]

Then we would be worse. If we want to discuss something reasonable instead of some horseshit straw man, that’s probably a better idea.

You sure you want to review the actual trade concepts that were bandied about at the time?

 

[Dreakmur]

Go back to the Habs series and skim through most threads right through to the end of summer. There were pitchforks out. I understand the contract part of it but there were tons of people who wanted him gone because of his lack of playoff success.

I wanted him (or Nylander) traded because spending 1/4 of your cap on right wing is wasteful. That hasn’t changed because wing is the least impactful position.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I wanted him (or Nylander) traded because spending 1/4 of your cap on right wing is wasteful. That hasn’t changed because wing is the least impactful position.

I have never said about any player that I "want him traded". I suspect you're not saying that either, just trying to be really careful with my words. The only way I would ever say that is if a player was a net negative which Marner obviously wasn't. So what I would say is that I would like to "explore the possibility of trading player X" but actually pulling the trigger on a trade depends, as always, on the return.

I wanted to explore the possibility of trading one of those two guys because it seemed like our cap was out of whack, Marner seemed like the logical guy to try first because it would free up a lot more cap, plus he had been not very good for a number of consecutive playoffs, that's all. But after a first all-star team caliber season, with him still being young and no guarantee that he would always be sub-par in the playoffs it goes without saying that it would have taken a ton to pry him loose from us. I remember saying that look at what BUF got for Eichel, start with that and start adding or, we get another star player back as part of the deal (like Eichel for example).

Anyhow, I'm sure almost everyone is happy that it didn't happen, Marner is looking great, so is the rest of them (except in goal) and that's that. Re-evaluate in the summer, as always.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Who cares that he's a massive part of our best line, is one of our best offensive players, is one of our best defensive players, is one of the most important parts of our PP, is one of the most important parts of our PK, and is a well-liked energy-injecting presence in the locker room, with a great work ethic. He's a winger, so he's not impactful.

 

[Dreakmur]

You sure you want to review the actual trade concepts that were bandied about at the time?

So your argument is that a couple idiots made bad trade proposals?

 

[Dreakmur]

Who cares that he's a massive part of our best line, is one of our best offensive players, is one of our best defensive players, is one of the most important parts of our PP, is one of the most important parts of our PK, and is a well-liked energy-injecting presence in the locker room, with a great work ethic. He's a winger, so he's not impactful.

Here comes captain straw man!

 

[Dekes For Days]

Here comes captain straw man!

No need to declare your entrance. I take it that we all agree then - Marner is massively impactful to our team, regardless of the position he plays, and trading him would be a massive mistake.

So your argument is that a couple idiots made bad trade proposals?

If only it was just a couple, and not every single one. Endlessly. For months.

 

[therealkoho]

Wonder where the Leafs and Matthews would be right now if Marner had been traded last summer, like many posters wanted ?

There were probably no takers because if I recall that was the period when Marner had completely forgotten how to hockey, let alone skate or shoot the puck.

There were a few of us standing up against the gates of the evil, and sorely misguided empire of LeaFland, saying "no you're wrong," but they weren't having it and retorting wildly that young William is the only hope, of course no one was mentioning the Valiant Auston who had outscored Mitchell the Frail, by one single and very solitary point.

It wouldn't do mentioning that because the Valiant Auston bathes in the glare and warmth of his own special light and so knows no negativity and cannot be entangled by the perceptions of something as trivial as points production.

 

[therealkoho]

What isn’t he doing?

Marner setting the standard for Leafs with increased physical play - TSN.ca

Over the last nine games, Mitch Marner leads the Maple Leafs in hits as the team gears up for the postseason. During his first five NHL seasons, the 6-foot, 172-pound forward recorded 1.31 hits per 60 minutes, Mark Masters writes. This season, he's up to 3.05.

www.tsn.ca

I think he even goes over to Matthews crib and does his laundry, dishes and takes back the empties.

 

[Dreakmur]

No need to declare your entrance. I take it that we all agree then - Marner is massively impactful to our team, regardless of the position he plays, and trading him would be a massive mistake.

If only it was just a couple, and not every single one. Endlessly. For months.

It's not just Marner, but Nylander too. There's a need for one for one of them. The other is redundant and should ne moved for a more impactful roster position.

 

[WillyC]

Mitch Marner is finally seeing the benefits of some Gilmour in his game… he can ultimately become the player Doug Gilmour would have been with a higher ceiling.

 

[Dekes For Days]

It's not just Marner, but Nylander too. There's a need for one for one of them. The other is redundant and should ne moved for a more impactful roster position.

Having two great wingers is not redundant, and they both bring a lot of positive impact to our team. We're not hurting for certain roles or cap expenditure at any other position. Our forward depth is great, and we've got some prospects hitting ages where they can start to contribute soon. Our defense is great, and we look likely to get a lot of surplus value out of Sandin and Liljegren over the next couple years. Goaltending is a bit of a question mark, but throwing money at goaltending is usually not a solution and is a great way to give yourself cap anchors. We've got enough space to spend a reasonable amount on goaltending.

Obviously trading Marner and trading Nylander are also very different discussions. Trading Nylander is something that is definitely inadvisable and extremely likely to set our team back, but there's at least a theoretical argument, even if it's bad. There is no realistic scenario where trading Marner benefits our team.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Hopefully it rubs off on Willie ‘FlyBy’ Nylander

He has feelings...

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

Mitch was already a superstar but him and Matthews are just taking it to another level. Mitch literally does everything, offense, defense, special teams, leadership. Such an outstanding player. All anyone can hope for is that we see this level of play in the playoffs. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I think this playoffs Matthews and Marner put the team on their backs.