Mitch Marner Offseason Continued

[IPS]

No, definitely not. But that of course doesn't fit his narrative that he's trying to drive home. Marner was 100% not a dog on a bone, battling, and taking hits to get the puck. He was getting hit because his decision making slowed down due to his nerves. He handled the puck like a grenade out there. Hence the eye popping 5 over the glass penalties in his young playoff career. So giving a small shifty guy credit for getting hit due to brain farts...is an odd one. High end, undersized players, typically don't take punishment. They spin out, they're elusive, they're shifty. Guys like Patrick Kane. Or guys like....regular season Mitch Marner. Notsince67 also wants to give credit for the low percentage muffin shots Marner threw at the goal. None of which put any fan on the edge of their seat (outside of the 2 on 1 that Price robbed Marner on). Why did he throw low percentage shots on goal? See the grenade statement. When Marner is going, he's making plays you don't see, he's thinking one step ahead....he didn't do that in the playoffs. Hence getting hit more than usual, 2 over the glass penalties, and a plethora of Marner Muffins (he should patent that, see if Timmies will get that going for him) on the net. Marner is an exceptional talent. I wanted us to draft him, and I'm still happy we have him. But trying to spin anything into this being a redeemable series for him is absolutely laughable.

It also completely excludes the fact that the Habs clearly had no problems shifting their coverage and conceding Mitch getting open looks. Good move on their part too, cause Mitch couldn't put home a single goal. Who honestly thinks that the Habs felt threatened by Mitch getting open shots from the perimeter?

This is precisely the same reason he was underwhelming against Columbus.

 

[Stonehands1990]

It also completely excludes the fact that the Habs clearly had no problems shifting their coverage and conceding Mitch getting open looks. Good move on their part too, cause Mitch couldn't put home a single goal. Who honestly thinks that the Habs felt threatened by Mitch getting open shots from the perimeter?

This is precisely the same reason he was underwhelming against Columbus.

As long as it looks good in the analytics we will continue to take weak shots that goalies routinely stop. And our coaches will think they are playing well

 

[Gallagbi]

It also completely excludes the fact that the Habs clearly had no problems shifting their coverage and conceding Mitch getting open looks. Good move on their part too, cause Mitch couldn't put home a single goal. Who honestly thinks that the Habs felt threatened by Mitch getting open shots from the perimeter?

This is precisely the same reason he was underwhelming against Columbus.

I don't even remember him getting chances against CBJ or creating off his passes outside a few PP goals.

Vs MTL he seemed to at least get some chances for himself, but being better than the year prior is a pretty low bar.

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

THERE IS ONE PLAY THAT SUMS UP MARNER. The clip where he pretended to go into the corner to get a puck, then turned away.

 

[ShaneFalco]

It also completely excludes the fact that the Habs clearly had no problems shifting their coverage and conceding Mitch getting open looks. Good move on their part too, cause Mitch couldn't put home a single goal. Who honestly thinks that the Habs felt threatened by Mitch getting open shots from the perimeter?

This is precisely the same reason he was underwhelming against Columbus.

He 100% wants to pass has no shot so.....

 

[supermann_98]

I think he can still salvage his relationship with the fan base. If he renegotiates his contract to a lower cap hit and publicly apologizes and I really do believe this fan base will get behind him.

Win a cup and he’ll be forgiven … barring that a playoff round win next year (at the very least) with him being a productive contributor would be a nice start.

Considering our likely first round opponent next year (Boston or Tampa) I don’t like his chances of him even getting that done. Maybe he can salvage something with a PPG series and who knows, maybe … a playoff goal?

A man can dream

 

[Superstar]

THERE IS ONE PLAY THAT SUMS UP MARNER. The clip where he pretended to go into the corner to get a puck, then turned away.

That was freakin' pathetic...in a game 7, down 1-0, in his own end...how does any team aspire to win a Cup with that kind of attitude? It's inexcusable.

 

[Brown Dog]

Elliotte Friedman made a good point on 31 Thoughts last week that Mitch Marner has always had "noise" around him and the best way the Leafs can get something out of him is to quiet that noise and have him focus on playing the game. Other than that, he seems to be in a Kessel/Phaneuf style end of Leaf career turmoil (after Salute Gate).

For a good hometown kid, he seems to have an entourage level of drama round him that you don't really see with any typical Leaf. The Babcock coaching drama, rumours of demanding a trade after being demoted to the fourth line, threatening to shop his services for an offer sheet, the constant comparisons to Auston Matthews, the letter to fans where he referenced names like Clark, Keon and the greats, the playoff meltdowns, admitting he wasn't ready for certain big games, the PP rumours/smear campaign, etc. just a lot of bad buzz.

Oh yeah! That letter! Man, that was godawful.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Win a cup and he’ll be forgiven … barring that a playoff round win next year (at the very least) with him being a productive contributor would be a nice start.

Considering our likely first round opponent next year (Boston or Tampa) I don’t like his chances of him even getting that done. Maybe he can salvage something with a PPG series and who knows, maybe … a playoff goal?

A man can dream

Sad when you hope your 11 Mil player can somehow contribute next year and get a goal

 

[Stephen]

As long as it looks good in the analytics we will continue to take weak shots that goalies routinely stop. And our coaches will think they are playing well

There's a neat video of a Mathew Barzal "puck possession" assist at the 4:10 mark I want to highlight. He kind of uses that signature Crosby/Tavares fighting off defenders with lower body strength move along the side boards, maintains body positioning and finds a passing lane in the end on his forehand. To my eyes, he seems very deliberate in trying to find body positioning to make a pass and is fighting for the critical few feet of perimeter ice he can work with that will generate a quality scoring chance. A lot of sweat equity if not "physical" in the classic hitting sense.



I would compare and contrast this to some of the more haphazard cycle plays we see with Matthews and Marner throughout the Montreal series (or often against heavier defensive coverage) where they're twisted out of body position to do anything useful, isolated and are herded around the back of the net only to have to whip it around. If you go by the stop watch or shot attempts generated or distance skated on that shift, everything probably looks similar to the play above, but I feel like there's definitely a qualitative difference in those shifts.

So when AM and MM talk about all the great looks and chances they got. Well, yes. But also, dig in, make the extra effort to get that really quality look.

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

That was freakin' pathetic...in a game 7, down 1-0, in his own end...how does any team aspire to win a Cup with that kind of attitude? It's inexcusable.

where is the clip/gif of it? i know i saw it here somewhere?

 

[Twowingcantfly]

Even if Mitch turns it around, so called Leaf fans will find someone else to shit on. Last year it was Nylander, this year was Mitch, Next year it will be Matthews. Earlier this year JT made numerous bone head giveaways, yet fans dumped all over Nylander. Hilarious homer fans in this city know so little about the sport called hockey. Go figure....

 

[Stonehands1990]

There's a neat video of a Mathew Barzal "puck possession" assist at the 4:10 mark I want to highlight. He kind of uses that signature Crosby/Tavares fighting off defenders with lower body strength move along the side boards, maintains body positioning and finds a passing lane in the end on his forehand. To my eyes, he seems very deliberate in trying to find body positioning to make a pass and is fighting for the critical few feet of perimeter ice he can work with that will generate a quality scoring chance. A lot of sweat equity if not "physical" in the classic hitting sense.



I would compare and contrast this to some of the more haphazard cycle plays we see with Matthews and Marner throughout the Montreal series (or often against heavier defensive coverage) where they're twisted out of body position to do anything useful, isolated and are herded around the back of the net only to have to whip it around. If you go by the stop watch or shot attempts generated or distance skated on that shift, everything probably looks similar to the play above, but I feel like there's definitely a qualitative difference in those shifts.

So when AM and MM talk about all the great looks and chances they got. Well, yes. But also, dig in, make the extra effort to get that really quality look.

I think part of the problem is our idiot coaches are telling them they’re playing great because it looks good on the analytics side

 

[keonsbitterness]

I think he can still salvage his relationship with the fan base. If he renegotiates his contract to a lower cap hit and publicly apologizes and I really do believe this fan base will get behind him.

Couldn't do that even if he wanted to. Renegotiating is not allowed under the NHL's hard cap system.

 

[mikemar1]

Avery talks like a f***ing idiot

What do you mean 'talks like one'?

 

[axlrose87]

Marner pissed me off to but I don't think the fan base attacking him like that is going to make anything better

Paying fans can boo if they want but if things are going to be that toxic it's going to be a problem

I agree with you but I still think it’s going to happen.
If fanboy Dubas isn’t looking for a trade, I would not be surprised if Mitch quietly requests one after some reflection.
He is not going to be a happy person in Toronto going forward. He did it to himself (and his dad helped).

 

[Aashir]

What do you mean 'talks like one'?

Only the second time I’ve really seen this guy. 1st being when he called Barrie a soft ass princess in the play-ins last year so I’m not too familiar with him. I know he was kind of an idiot as a player too, but wasn’t a hockey fan during his time playing, but from the responses here I’ve picked up that he kind of sucks

 

[Gallagbi]

So when AM and MM talk about all the great looks and chances they got. Well, yes. But also, dig in, make the extra effort to get that really quality look.

Marner had 3 open nets he missed. He doesn't create in the same way Barzal does, which we discussed before, but let's not pretend that having Price down and out where he either missed his spot or double clutched were just "stats chances". He should take heat for missing a golden opportunity, but we can't pretend those didn't happen

 

[Stephen]

Marner had 3 open nets he missed. He doesn't create in the same way Barzal does, which we discussed before, but let's not pretend that having Price down and out where he either missed his spot or double clutched were just "stats chances". He should take heat for missing a golden opportunity, but we can't pretend those didn't happen

I'm not arguing that chances were generated in the series but so often the big line cycle game is just a haphazard lap around the offensive zone with low percentage spam attempts, little touch passes and floating off, put the on net with bad body positioning and poor looks while getting boxed out. I don't care if Marner's style isn't to create like Barzal does, but his preferred method of feathering things around is clearly not effective when physical pressure is applied.

 

[Superstar]

where is the clip/gif of it? i know i saw it here somewhere?

Here you go. If Marner was playing for the Stars, he would have been ripped to shreds by the owner or traded asap...your $11 million winger in a game 7, folks. Even though he knew exactly where the puck was, he pretended to skate towards it, swivels to not get it in fear of getting hit. I'm sorry, but that's a con man who had gotten his money and doesn't care. You wonder what else he is cheating on.

 

[socko]

That's what an $11 million flyby looks like.

 

[Stonehands1990]

That was freakin' pathetic...in a game 7, down 1-0, in his own end...how does any team aspire to win a Cup with that kind of attitude? It's inexcusable.

And there’s zero accountability. Not like Keefe would ever sit him. Keefe is a trash coach

 

[supermann_98]

Here you go. If Marner was playing for the Stars, he would have been ripped to shreds by the owner or traded asap...your $11 million winger in a game 7, folks. Even though he knew exactly where the puck was, he pretended to skate towards it, swivels to not get it in fear of getting hit. I'm sorry, but that's a con man who had gotten his money and doesn't care. You wonder what else he is cheating on.

That's an $11m assistant captain on this team ... embarrassing

 

[Westlander]

I agree with you but I still think it’s going to happen.
If fanboy Dubas isn’t looking for a trade, I would not be surprised if Mitch quietly requests one after some reflection.
He is not going to be a happy person in Toronto going forward. He did it to himself (and his dad helped).

Next season is going to be a long one, for the whole group but Marner especially. There is almost nothing he can do in the regular season to fix this either. He could win the Art Ross and a lot of us would just shake our heads.

 

[Aus34Matt]

A friend of mine knows someone with pretty close ties to the family and I will just say that almost all of it is coming from Paul. He is a real piece of work.

f*** Paul Marner