Player Discussion Mitch Marner Part Infinity

[Jimmy Firecracker]

All signs seem to point Mitch being checked out and done with this whole situation. Unless he has the games of his life this weekend he’s not gonna come back and the franchise won’t want him back.

What a sad ending.

 

[DarkKnight]

All signs seem to points Mitch being checked out and done with this whole situation. Unless he has the games of his life this weekend he’s not gonna come back and the franchise won’t want him back.

What a sad ending.

I've always felt, well at least since he didn't sign, it's Conference Finals or bust for resigning him.

 

[Gabriel426]

I've always felt, well at least since he didn't sign, it's Conference Finals or bust for resigning him.

Well let’s say the Leafs make it to ECF or even Cup Finals but both AM and MM still play the way they did the past two games. And the reason Leafs is at ECF or Cup Finals is bc of Knies, Willie and even JT.

Should the Leafs even sign MM?

 

[DarkKnight]

Well let’s say the Leafs make it to ECF or even Cup Finals but both AM and MM still play the way they did the past two games. And the reason Leafs is at ECF or Cup Finals is bc of Knies, Willie and even JT.

Should the Leafs even sign MM?

I'd argue they could at least justify it, with this exit, they can't. We made it too a Conference Final is progress. It's a mess really. Letting him walk for nothing but cap space isn't good for the franchise.

 

[Tak7]

All signs seem to points Mitch being checked out and done with this whole situation. Unless he has the games of his life this weekend he’s not gonna come back and the franchise won’t want him back.

What a sad ending.

Sad. But predictable.

I said all year that I don't think he has the appetite to want to do this anymore, here, with the pressure and criticism and constant analysis etc.

There's no doubt in my mind that after last night, any remaining part of Marner's desire to want to remain here has vanished. One thing you absolutely know about him, is whether it's him directly or through the people he's around, is that he's always dialed into the noise.

His ears will be burning today, and that will likely be the final nail in the coffin of whatever decision he had left to make as to whether he wants to remain a Maple Leaf or not.

 

[NVious]

One thing that's never brought up about Mitch anymore because everybody just gave up on it is how thin he is.

At the draft 10 years ago he was listed as 5'11 160, now he is listed as 6' 170, so basically he has gained no muscle in 10 years. It wouldn't surprise me if he was 5'10-11 and 155-165

Not everybody needs to be bulked up to play Hockey, but someone as soft as Mitch obviously could use another 10-20lbs of lean mass to help him not be so scared of contact. He's not willing to put in the work to do it and he is not willing to take the "supplementation" to get there.

He and Auston are both very slight and obviously could do better adding mass, again that would take hard training and supplementation if need be, but simply put they just are not willing to do what it takes to win.

 

[Mess]

We can also take a cap hit or two to facilitate someone wanting to sign Mitch. Or another UFA. Have to be quite creative with the extra cap space but having space is never a bad thing.

Being creative would be to allow Marner to walk and then take and hold in reserve the $14 mil you would have paid him, and put up a sign "Come and Get It" on all builtin boards in the Edmonton Era.

While buying up Radio Space and playing on repeat.

Holding Out for a Hero​

Subtle but effective.

 

[sunstersun]

Wait why are people surprised at Mitch's turnover and brain meltdown?

It's what he does in the postseason.



Avoiding hits against Boston. Not winning pucks.



Not defending. Letting Pasta walk past him.



Game 6 same turnover against Tampa in 2022. Literally the same backhand BS outside of the backhand.

Then 2021 against the Habs.



edit: The crown to top off all the shit I forgot.

 

[Gabriel426]

I'd argue they could at least justify it, with this exit, they can't. We made it too a Conference Final is progress. It's a mess really. Letting him walk for nothing but cap space isn't good for the franchise.

I see your point if they make it to ECF or beyond.

To me, it has always been can these guys(Core 5) do it collectively. And we could be one game away from finding out that they really can’t. That’s why I don’t see the point of let’s bring everyone back and see what happens….

To me, Willie and Knies are the only untouchable in the forwards. And Reilly is also a movable piece.

I would literally pull the trigger on AM if Miller and Laf from Rangers are willing to come to TO.
Let MM walks.
Trade Reilly for a more reliable Dman or just picks and sign an UFA Dman.
Might resign JT but it will be those deferred deals where his caphit is around 4mil but it is actually a 6-7mil contract.
Sign Bennett and Ekblad in free agency. Strengthen the Leafs while weakening the Panthers at the same time.

 

[Stephen]

One thing that's never brought up about Mitch anymore because everybody just gave up on it is how thin he is.

At the draft 10 years ago he was listed as 5'11 160, now he is listed as 6' 170, so basically he has gained no muscle in 10 years. It wouldn't surprise me if he was 5'10-11 and 155-165

Not everybody needs to be bulked up to play Hockey, but someone as soft as Mitch obviously could use another 10-20lbs of lean mass to help him not be so scared of contact. He's not willing to put in the work to do it and he is not willing to take the "supplementation" to get there.

View attachment 1036611

He and Auston are both very slight and obviously could do better adding mass, again that would take hard training and supplementation if need be, but simply put they just are not willing to do what it takes to win.

Marner looks like a guy who hasn’t gone to the gym once since the draft combine.

The amount of bulking up you see on Easton Cowan since his draft day is more noticeable than Marner’s lack of having ever worked to bulk up.

I just imagine what Gary Roberts would say to this guy.

 

[DarkKnight]

I see your point if they make it to ECF or beyond.

To me, it has always been can these guys(Core 5) do it collectively. And we could be one game away from finding out that they really can’t. That’s why I don’t see the point of let’s bring everyone back and see what happens….

To me, Willie and Knies are the only untouchable in the forwards. And Reilly is also a movable piece.

I would literally pull the trigger on AM if Miller and Laf from Rangers are willing to come to TO.
Let MM walks.
Trade Reilly for a more reliable Dman or just picks and sign an UFA Dman.
Might resign JT but it will be those deferred deals where his caphit is around 4mil but it is actually a 6-7mil contract.
Sign Bennett and Ekblad in free agency. Strengthen the Leafs while weakening the Panthers at the same time.

Reilly was so bad the first period last night, just pushed off like a doll every time and horrible reads. I'm over him as well, and I genuinely like him as a dude and good soldier all these years, he's just a liability back there when we need him.

I'd consider moving 34 too, if the goal is really a cup, he ain't it, clearly. Willie and Knies agreed, but they aren't promised land players either imo, great pieces.

 

[fahad203]

This team is absolutely done with this core. Baring a miracle these last 2 games, I can see a lot of people turning sour on Tavares and Mitch leaving. They'll be fine with them moving forward

Tavares is done. He looks slow and out of gas every game

 

[fahad203]

Marner looks like a guy who hasn’t gone to the gym once since the draft combine.

The amount of bulking up you see on Easton Cowan since his draft day is more noticeable than Marner’s lack of having ever worked to bulk up.

I just imagine what Gary Roberts would say to this guy.

Funny right. Remember when Bennett couldn't do a pull up at the colombine?

 

[DarkKnight]

This team is absolutely done with this core. Baring a miracle these last 2 games, I can see a lot of people turning sour on Tavares and Mitch leaving. They'll be fine with them moving forward

Tavares is done. He looks slow and out of gas every game

JT had a good season for us, to be fair, surprised me. Depends what he wants to stay, if he's okay with 3C money could do worse. Can't rely on him anymore though, he's support role.

 

[wingman75]

Nope, nor is it exclusive to him.

No, certainly not, just keeping the focus on this thread's topic.

 

[ACC1224]

No, certainly not, just keeping the focus on this thread's topic.

All good, I knew that.
Terrible play no doubt and I get some can only focus on one thing at a time but they weren't winning that game whether that turnover happens or not.

 

[fahad203]

JT had a good season for us, to be fair, surprised me. Depends what he wants to stay, if he's okay with 3C money could do worse. Can't rely on him anymore though, he's support role.

The game is only getting faster and faster. He's getting slower and slower
He has had a good year, don't let that fool you. A lot of players in their contract years have good years

He's not Jason Spezza who later in his career used his size and hands to offset his speed

 

[wingman75]

All good, I knew that.
Terrible play no doubt and I get some can only focus on one thing at a time but they weren't winning that game whether that turnover happens or not.

Agreed on that point.

I think it's just added to the journal of failure for these guys. No worse than any of the others really, just another entry of an already too-long list.

 

[Gabriel426]

Reilly was so bad the first period last night, just pushed off like a doll every time and horrible reads. I'm over him as well, and I genuinely like him as a dude and good soldier all these years, he's just a liability back there when we need him.

I'd consider moving 34 too, if the goal is really a cup, he ain't it, clearly. Willie and Knies agreed, but they aren't promised land players either imo, great pieces.

Reilly is a great guy, met him a few times and he is always so pleasant and good to talk to. My kid actually thought we were friends, lol.

To me Willie is a game breaker but he needs others to give him time as he can’t break the game every shift while Knies is that consistent grit and skill that all Cup winners had on their team.

Both are not the Mack or McD or Drai but if they are surrounded with players like Bennett, Miller and guys like that, to me that’s closer to a Cup than the current group.

 

[thewave]

All signs seem to point Mitch being checked out and done with this whole situation. Unless he has the games of his life this weekend he’s not gonna come back and the franchise won’t want him back.

What a sad ending.

The franchise wants him back as long as he sells merch. Pretty hard to sell merch when the fans now hate your guts. I guess last year when he sucked not enough fans disliked him. Obviously hearing the crowd last night there is ample bad blood.

Boos in your own barn in the POs is unreal

 

[Tak7]

Mirtle this morning suggested that the reason the Leafs went to Marner with the Rantanen trade situation, was because they were already fed up with the relationship between him and the team.

Says the relationship, barring a comeback in this series and Marner having a huge round 3, is over.

Sounds like both parties have all but agreed to shake hands and go their own way.

 

[Superstar]

What the 4 nations showed me is Matthews and Marner bring out the worst in each other when together. I’ll be consistent in my messaging. Mark my words, we are not winning shit with Auston as the captain or leader of this team. Nick Robertson has more second round goals than Matthews let that sink in.

We got the wrong one, we needed McDavid in 2015.

That being said, moving off Mitch is probably the right move, but I doubt it solves anything. Long term. Letting Marner walk is putting a bandaid on the bigger issue, which is our 13 mill guy can’t score a big goal and that’s what he’s paid to do.

I'm sure putting a big winger on Matthews right side who's not afraid to get dirty along the boards and the front of the net, in addition to having Knies on his left, will completely change the dynamic of the line.

 

[Gabriel426]

JT had a good season for us, to be fair, surprised me. Depends what he wants to stay, if he's okay with 3C money could do worse. Can't rely on him anymore though, he's support role.

That’s the thing with JT. Can he reshape his game as a 3C with probably PP2 usage? I think he can but his stats will take a huge hit, and that’s why I don’t see why it is a bad idea if he makes around 6mil but with a 4mil caphit due to deferred salary.

 

[DarkKnight]

The game is only getting faster and faster. He's getting slower and slower
He has had a good year, don't let that fool you. A lot of players in their contract years have good years

He's not Jason Spezza who later in his career used his size and hands to offset his speed

We're not exactly deep at center. Lots of holes if he's gone too. I can see him taking a discount to stay.

 

[Stephen]

All good, I knew that.
Terrible play no doubt and I get some can only focus on one thing at a time but they weren't winning that game whether that turnover happens or not.

The turnover represents the moment Yakkity Sax comes on and turns a disappointing 2-0 loss into a slapstick comedy. How they lost was so demoralizing that they may as well not show up for Game 6 cause they’re emotionally down in that game too. Might as well start down 3-0.