Player Discussion Mitch Marner Part Infinity

[Antropovsky]

I don't recall him being booed at all up until it was 4-1

Yes but apparently it was him specifically being bood after 4-1.

That is what I read and have heard on kypers show. I turned the game off at the end of the first.

 

[Craig Button]

Good luck with that. Carolina is a lot like us with a slightly better structure/coaching but still soft in many respects. Like us they need a Rantanen/Tkachuk style, not Marner. But good on them if they want to pay him 13/14 million. They can save us from ourselves.

Rantanen does not play the same style as Tkachuk

Marner Rantanen Mathew Tkachuk Hits Postseason 2025 | StatMuse

Mitch Marner has made 31 hits in the 2025 playoffs.

www.statmuse.com

Unless you mean they both don’t kill penalties

Marner Rantanen Mathew Tkachuk Short Handed Time On Ice Postseason 2025 | StatMuse

Mitch Marner has spent 26:40 on ice while shorthanded in the 2025 playoffs.

www.statmuse.com

 

[ITM]

Nylander has given up on many puck battles because someone was going to hit him, Marner is not even close to that level.

They both primarily use their stick and avoid contact because other parts of their game are better, which is fine, wouldn't critique either for this, but Nylander bailing on pucks in the corner to not get hit is exclusive to him.

But if the criteria being valued is avoiding vulnerability in order to best positively affect outcome in the playoffs, it seems Nylander's assessment and ability is better than Marner's.

The point of the questions is plain: You can't have one standard for one a different for the other.

I'm not championing Nylander as a comparable to Knies, but its a preference to say Nylander avoids puck battles out of fear and then say in one breath, Marner is essentially a perimeter player who gives up less on puck battles. Nylander certainly attacks the middle much more than Marner (in the playoffs). And yes, he avoids contact in certain instances, but Nylander shields with his body on the attack driving to the net.

Perhaps its a function of, if Marner is isolated to the perimeter and the puck travels there, Marner (in the playoffs) finds himself in a battle rather than a preemptive engagement? I believe Marner can battle. I don't know why he doesn't during the playoffs (apart from abject fear) given his engagement level in the regular season. Hence the frustration.

 

[notbias]

But if the criteria being valued is avoiding vulnerability in order to best positively affect outcome in the playoffs, it seems Nylander's assessment and ability is better than Marner's.

If you ignore points or goals for and against and just make up a random metric, I agree.

 

[CelticDruid]

Rantanen does not play the same style as Tkachuk

Marner Rantanen Mathew Tkachuk Hits Postseason 2025 | StatMuse

Mitch Marner has made 31 hits in the 2025 playoffs.

www.statmuse.com

Unless you mean they both don’t kill penalties

Marner Rantanen Mathew Tkachuk Short Handed Time On Ice Postseason 2025 | StatMuse

Mitch Marner has spent 26:40 on ice while shorthanded in the 2025 playoffs.

www.statmuse.com

They weren't hits! It's more like Hershey's Kisses for the buttocks.

Puff farts and dandelion magic fairy dust for all the unicorns exiting the Maple Leafs future DNA tough guys squad.

 

[Antropovsky]

Nylander has given up on many puck battles because someone was going to hit him, Marner is not even close to that level.

They both primarily use their stick and avoid contact because other parts of their game are better, which is fine, wouldn't critique either for this, but Nylander bailing on pucks in the corner to not get hit is exclusive to him.

Agreed, both players tend to avoid physical contact and do not engage heavily in board battles.

However, when comparing overall impact, Nylander has the edge in several key areas.

Why Nylander is better:

- Offers more offensive versatility; capable of both scoring and playmaking.
- An elite skater with excellent top-end speed
-Can generate offense with or without elite linemates.
- Among the top two? in goals per 60 minutes in the playoffs over the past few years.
- 20 pounds heavier. Harder to knock off the puck; occasionally drives the net and uses his strength effectively.
- Handles media very well.
- Rarely commits costly giveaways or critical errors.

Marner Better:
- Brings consistent effort and rarely takes shifts off.
- Stronger overall defensive impact, although he can be prone to high-risk giveaways in crucial moments.

Ive noticed Marner has a tendency to not be able to move with the puck in the offensive zone. If he shoots, its stationary, if its a pass, its stationary. Etc etc its likely due to his lack of speed and strength..he doesnt have the skills necessary to do it.

Nylander though does and can.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Nobody is disputing the idea that you can trade a players negotiating rights.

What you are being told - and seemingly keep ignoring - is that you cannot trade the negotiating rights of a player with a NMC unless the player agrees to the trade.

"Nobody is disputing the idea that you can trade a players negotiating rights."

LOL, yes, people have in this very thread.

 

[Antropovsky]

Ive said for awhile, that culture wise and now saying it "DNA" wise we cant have 40+ mins of a 60 minute game taken up with Nylander or Marner being on the ice and avoiding physical area.

They arent Reinhart, Barkov soft...who may not be "tough" or overly gitty but they battle physically. Like Tavares or Matthews. They use their bodies.

Our two guys (Nylander, Marner) do not want to engage in physical battles whatsoever.

 

[Trapper]

Rantanen does not play the same style as Tkachuk

Marner Rantanen Mathew Tkachuk Hits Postseason 2025 | StatMuse

Mitch Marner has made 31 hits in the 2025 playoffs.

www.statmuse.com

Unless you mean they both don’t kill penalties

Marner Rantanen Mathew Tkachuk Short Handed Time On Ice Postseason 2025 | StatMuse

Mitch Marner has spent 26:40 on ice while shorthanded in the 2025 playoffs.

www.statmuse.com

No he doesn’t play a bruising game like Tkachuk. But he’s 6’4, 215lbs who can play the boards and his hard to move. His size and skill is better suited at protecting the puck and winning 1 on 1 battles. Marner is a slight winger who doesn’t win 1 on 1. Rantanen is also a much, much better goal scorer than Marner which is something we have trouble with in the playoffs.

 

[Antropovsky]

This could leach until fall. He will be a Penquin. Dubas loves him and they have cap.

Dubas if he is desperate to try and turn a winner... BUT reports are he wanted to do a proper rebuild and got pushback. That was two years ago... he also let Guentzal go who isnt many years older than Marner.

Marner would likely delay a proper rebuild more than help it... when Babs was here he kwpt repeatinf you need high draft picks to build a winner. So... Dubas was hearing it often and first hand.

 

[Tak7]

Dubas if he is desperate to try and turn a winner... BUT reports are he wanted to do a proper rebuild and got pushback. That was two years ago... he also let Guentzal go who isnt many years older than Marner.

Marner would likely delay a proper rebuild more than help it... when Babs was here he kwpt repeatinf you need high draft picks to build a winner. So... Dubas was hearing it often and first hand.

He didn't get pushback - he had a free remit to try and win now in that core's final few cracks at it, and is now rebuilding. This always felt like the plan in Pittsburgh.

Agreed that Marner to a team entering a retool/rebuild doesn't seem likely, but beyond that, I just can't imagine Dubas being particularly interested in that reunion given how integral Marner was to Dubas' failing in Toronto.

 

[Leaf Fans]

I think everyone agrees Mitch would have to agree to be traded. Now if some team wanted to trade for the right to negotiate with Mitch, I’m sure they could. It doesn’t affect Mitch if he doesn’t want to move.

A team can totally want somethings and it has nothing to do with Marner. If they actually agree to a trade involving Marner, he has to approve.

 

[Leaf Fans]

They weren't hits! It's more like Hershey's Kisses for the buttocks.

Puff farts and dandelion magic fairy dust for all the unicorns exiting the Maple Leafs future DNA tough guys squad.

Yeah, they were just, "counted" as hits.

 

[ITM]

If you ignore points or goals for and against and just make up a random metric, I agree.

Or if you create a double standard to equivocate why Marner doesn’t out produce the “lesser” Nylander perhaps?

 

[Menzinger]

He didn't get pushback - he had a free remit to try and win now in that core's final few cracks at it, and is now rebuilding. This always felt like the plan in Pittsburgh.

Agreed that Marner to a team entering a retool/rebuild doesn't seem likely, but beyond that, I just can't imagine Dubas being particularly interested in that reunion given how integral Marner was to Dubas' failing in Toronto.

I can see him quite easily joining a non-playoff western team like say Anaheim or Utah.

Id be very surprised if opted to join an Eastern team in that situation (or any Eastern team for that matter)

 

[JKG33]

He didn't get pushback - he had a free remit to try and win now in that core's final few cracks at it, and is now rebuilding. This always felt like the plan in Pittsburgh.

Agreed that Marner to a team entering a retool/rebuild doesn't seem likely, but beyond that, I just can't imagine Dubas being particularly interested in that reunion given how integral Marner was to Dubas' failing in Toronto.

Dubas acquiring Karlsson only to a few months later trade Guentzel away will never not be hilarious

 

[JKG33]

I can see him quite easily joining a non-playoff western team like say Anaheim or Utah.

Id be very surprised if opted to join an Eastern team in that situation (or any Eastern team for that matter)

I think he gives NYI, NYR, and PIT a long and hard look. Baby Mitchy-poo won't like the harder travel out west.

I also think he'd be spiteful enough to go to Carolina. Because what better way to f*** over the team youve been f***ing over the last 9 years than by nixing a Rantanen trade just to go there anyway

 

[ACC1224]

No he doesn’t play a bruising game like Tkachuk. But he’s 6’4, 215lbs who can play the boards and his hard to move. His size and skill is better suited at protecting the puck and winning 1 on 1 battles. Marner is a slight winger who doesn’t win 1 on 1. Rantanen is also a much, much better goal scorer than Marner which is something we have trouble with in the playoffs.

Exactly, they aren’t really comparable at all.

 

[Superstar]

I think he gives NYI, NYR, and PIT a long and hard look. Baby Mitchy-poo won't like the harder travel out west.

I also think he'd be spiteful enough to go to Carolina. Because what better way to f*** over the team youve been f***ing over the last 9 years than by nixing a Rantanen trade just to go there anyway

I don't think he's going to Carolina because the owner will not overpay for him.

 

[Stephen]

He didn't get pushback - he had a free remit to try and win now in that core's final few cracks at it, and is now rebuilding. This always felt like the plan in Pittsburgh.

Agreed that Marner to a team entering a retool/rebuild doesn't seem likely, but beyond that, I just can't imagine Dubas being particularly interested in that reunion given how integral Marner was to Dubas' failing in Toronto.

You can’t rule out Dubas being Dubas. He just plays a smart guy on TV.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Honestly guys, Marner avoiding any chance of contact pulling the chute going into the corners is actually a sign of intense toughness if you actually know what you’re talking about. He knows every former player on TV is going to rip him for it, but he chooses to make the smart and tactical decision to avoid all contact anyway, and on top of that he almost never cries about it on camera later.

 

[Stephen]

Honestly guys, Marner avoiding any chance of contact pulling the chute going into the corners is actually a sign of intense toughness if you actually know what you’re talking about. He knows every former player on TV is going to rip him for it, but he chooses to make the smart and tactical decision to avoid all contact anyway, and on top of that he almost never cries about it on camera later.

Freshest guy on the ice for Game 8.

 

[Trapper]

Exactly, they aren’t really comparable at all.

Exactly and that is how you would have liked to change the core. Instead of what might be now.

 

[IPS]

I never knew how insanely valuable a winger's defensive game is to a team until Mitch Marner joined the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I honestly don't care how many goals Rantanen scores in the playoffs, until he starts killing some penalties he has no business being in the same tier as Marner.

 

[IPS]

Honestly guys, Marner avoiding any chance of contact pulling the chute going into the corners is actually a sign of intense toughness if you actually know what you’re talking about. He knows every former player on TV is going to rip him for it, but he chooses to make the smart and tactical decision to avoid all contact anyway, and on top of that he almost never cries about it on camera later.

Couldn't agree more.