Player Discussion Mitch Marner, Part 3758391849

[Gary Nylund]

Lol. I realise I was stating the obvious. I don't disagree. I am just ok with enjoying it while it's happening.

If they lose to Florida then this team just isn't good enough and they need to probably make some changes.

But the Leafs went to OT against Fla 3 times so they couldn't be that bad right? If the Leafs were never in the Fla series, this series really is no different.

I'm fine with enjoying it too, it's nice to be up 3-0.

 

[Divine]

I'd let Marner go if he asks too much still. If Kaprizov/McDavid hit UFA next summer, that's who you target

 

[francis246]

While my opinion of Mitchy has never been good regarding his intestinal fortitude, I will publically admit, his defensive play has been excellent, and only 1 or 2 others in the NHL, could make that pass to AM. I see progress in his passion to win at all costs. He is changing, he is no longer a boy. I do not want him engaging physically but playing within 12 ft of the net is imperative.
He is. His worth is going up.

Was listening to Bourne on Leafs Talk after the game and he was describing how hard it actually was for Marner to make that pass. I know people want to down play it. But that’s a hard pass to make on the tape, he also had to add some force to make sure the pass reached Matthews, it wasn’t just a simple deflection.

That pass was extremely hard to do and Marner is one of the best at executing those types of plays consistently.

 

[francis246]

Some people seem to get carried away.

That was a great play, but I've seen it any number of times, and have actually done it myself. I know Matty has done very similar, and I know JT set up someone last season. "It ain't rocket surgery."

I need to see video of you doing it please. Just an outrageous statement.

 

[notDatsyuk]

You should post your highlight film

Too quick - the cameras were looking the wrong way.

 

[Mr_Fun]

I need to see video of you doing it please. Just an outrageous statement.

You can watch the clip in its entirety, narrated by Bigfoot, over at TrustMeBro.com

 

[Leaf Fans]

You can watch the clip in its entirety, narrated by Bigfoot, over at TrustMeBro.com

That is where I post all mine. How did he get Bigfoot to narrate, though? Nepotism?

 

[DarkKnight]

All the defensive compliments you could give Matthews can be passed down the line to Marner as he’s been unreal defensively

The 2-1 goal was almost entirely him. Rielly did a normal dump in and Matthews hit an empty net, he made an incredible and disgusting one touch through his and Sanderson legs off the boards in a second to fool everyone

Again I’m not trying to argue over semantics and if people wanna say Matthews has been better go for it. I just think that Marner has been our skater MVP so far.

American broadcast was talking about how Marner deserves Selke consideration. Fanboys

 

[ToneDog]

Was listening to Bourne on Leafs Talk after the game and he was describing how hard it actually was for Marner to make that pass. I know people want to down play it. But that’s a hard pass to make on the tape, he also had to add some force to make sure the pass reached Matthews, it wasn’t just a simple deflection.

That pass was extremely hard to do and Marner is one of the best at executing those types of plays consistently.

Anybody denying Marner is a highly skilled player is FOS. The issue many have with Marner is his soft perimeter play, his disappearance in big games and how much we should resign him for. At $13m+, sorry I move on.

The Leafs and Panthers are probably the two best defensive teams in the playoffs. If we meet them, I can see every game being a low scoring one goal game. If we lose to them because our forward group cannot outscore theirs, it is another sign to me that this core will never get it done and running them back is pure insanity.

 

[verdi]

Anybody denying Marner is a highly skilled player is FOS. The issue many have with Marner is his soft perimeter play, his disappearance in big games and how much we should resign him for. At $13m+, sorry I move on.

There is no NHL team where you can say every player is hard on the puck. Marner isn't a brute - he's a skilled winger. There's nothing wrong with that if that's what this team needs and frankly, I can't say having skill on the wings is a bad idea.

 

[ToneDog]

There is no NHL team where you can say every player is hard on the puck. Marner isn't a brute - he's a skilled winger. There's nothing wrong with that if that's what this team needs and frankly, I can't say having skill on the wings is a bad idea.

This is the NHL where not many soft, skilled, perimeter players are not difference makers in the playoffs. See Gudreau (RIP), Panarin, Pettersson, Marner. Off topic but Patches for Robertson made a huge difference to our 3rd line.

If they lose to the Panthers, at what point do you say, we cannot pay this core and surround them with the players needed to win a SC, if that is the goal?

 

[aingefan]

I'd let Marner go if he asks too much still. If Kaprizov/McDavid hit UFA next summer, that's who you target

Wild owner in the press earlier this year said that Kirill can effectively pick his number. Not sure he’s getting there.

 

[Leaf Fans]

American broadcast was talking about how Marner deserves Selke consideration. Fanboys

I thought they just repeated a loop about Marner's game 4 performance last year.

 

[Ports]

Marner is playing well and is huge part of the team. The jury is still out for me on re-signing him until we see how he and the team performs later in series and close out games where they’ve struggled before. For the dollars he’ll want he needs to be a difference maker when the series is on the line.

 

[francis246]

Anybody denying Marner is a highly skilled player is FOS. The issue many have with Marner is his soft perimeter play, his disappearance in big games and how much we should resign him for. At $13m+, sorry I move on.

The Leafs and Panthers are probably the two best defensive teams in the playoffs. If we meet them, I can see every game being a low scoring one goal game. If we lose to them because our forward group cannot outscore theirs, it is another sign to me that this core will never get it done and running them back is pure insanity.

You’re right, it’s going to be on the core to lock in and score key goals. Something does feel different about them this year and I’m believing they will get it done. I think Willy is gonna explode in round 2 IMO. It will be interesting to see which line gets Jones and Forsling and which line gets Ekblad if we are to finish it off and advance

 

[arso40]

There is no NHL team where you can say every player is hard on the puck. Marner isn't a brute - he's a skilled winger. There's nothing wrong with that if that's what this team needs and frankly, I can't say having skill on the wings is a bad idea.

The problem is he plays on the top line and gets the most minutes so a soft player is on the ice a lot there isnt really another team like that off the top of my head that’s in serious contention to win it all it’s a contact sport hopefully he can be the first

 

[arso40]

You’re right, it’s going to be on the core to lock in and score key goals. Something does feel different about them this year and I’m believing they will get it done. I think Willy is gonna explode in round 2 IMO. It will be interesting to see which line gets Jones and Forsling and which line gets Ekblad if we are to finish it off and advance

If they keep ekblad and forsling separated it gets a bit more interesting for sure forsling probably gets mattys line though regardless

 

[Smif]

how many players make a play like that in a tight playoff game though?

This was the arguement against M&M all the time, they could make the slick plays in the RS but playoffs come around and they just can't do that. Zibanejad is a guy who isn't going to make that play in the playoffs. According to Rangers fans he's a PP merchant come playoff time so he sure as shit isn't doing that on EVS.

Zibanejad didn't have a guy actually defending the pass, his man tripped into the goalie. Zibanejad did this in a random game in December,

Marner did it in game 3 of a tied game. Therein lies the difference

What's crazy is that Marner doesn't ever go down low I was told. For the first time ever he gets the idea of dropping down behind the net instead of floating around the blue line the whole time.

Love that narrative.

What he does is use the entire o-zone to put up points. You have a guy like Knies who pretty much just gets points within 10ft of the net whereas Marner can be at the blue line, half boards, behind the net, literally anywhere and he's dangerous.

 

[Smif]

The problem is he plays on the top line and gets the most minutes so a soft player is on the ice a lot there isnt really another team like that off the top of my head that’s in serious contention to win it all it’s a contact sport hopefully he can be the first

Reinhart and Verhaeghe won the cup last year on the same line.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Let's say Leafs play Florida in the 2nd round and lose in any fashion, do you just run it back again? How would they get better? At the end of the day, a loss to Florida would mean they are not good enough. So how do you get better if you just bring everyone back?

 

[arso40]

Reinhart and Verhaeghe won the cup last year on the same line.

Reinhart a soft player? Verhaeghe isnt even a soft player but why would you even mention reinhart that’s crazy work

 

[Aashir]

What's crazy is that Marner doesn't ever go down low I was told. For the first time ever he gets the idea of dropping down behind the net instead of floating around the blue line the whole time.

Love that narrative.

What he does is use the entire o-zone to put up points. You have a guy like Knies who pretty much just gets points within 10ft of the net whereas Marner can be at the blue line, half boards, behind the net, literally anywhere and he's dangerous.

I think Marner is most dangerous when he’s around the boards and behind the net at EVS imo.

The point play works on the pp and he’s actually a very solid qb, however I think the offence dries up when he goes to the point too much, it’s about a balance of where he attacks from.

I don’t expect Marner to be knies, f*** I don’t even really expect him to go to the front of the net really, but the half boards and behind the net is where Marner can make the most of his playmaking. He has more options and those options will have more options and closer to high scoring areas.

Marners playmaking and creativity is enough to make up for perimeter play, but there’s not really plays that use those too much from the point.

 

[Aashir]

Let's say Leafs play Florida in the 2nd round and lose in any fashion, do you just run it back again? How would they get better? At the end of the day, a loss to Florida would mean they are not good enough. So how do you get better if you just bring everyone back?

I’ve said it before, if we are gonna lose to Florida it changes nothing and you can’t run the core back

It’s nice if we beat Ottawa and credit to the team for drawing the easy matchup because of seeding, but you gotta be able to beat the good teams too

It’s tempting to say finals or bust but we might really be there..

 

[francis246]

Let's say Leafs play Florida in the 2nd round and lose in any fashion, do you just run it back again? How would they get better? At the end of the day, a loss to Florida would mean they are not good enough. So how do you get better if you just bring everyone back?

The only way I really consider change is if the leafs get Molly whipped. If they lose in 7 to Florida in a tight series, I’m not gonna blow up the team over that IMO

 

[Suntouchable13]

The only way I really consider change is if the leafs get Molly whipped. If they lose in 7 to Florida in a tight series, I’m not gonna blow up the team over that IMO

It would still mean they are not good enough. What makes you think next year they will win? Or the year after? Florida is not going away any time soon. Nobody is getting younger either, especially the D.