Mitch Marner (post playoffs) discussion thread continued...

[LFCTML]

He wasn't good. no. But when the opposition can smother you because they know your winger is looking to pass at every opportunity and has a muffin of a shot......
Why Keefe didn't split them up..... ?????

This is the biggest question to me. Why the **** didn't Keefe put Willy with Matthews after game 5. It was painfully obvious that Marner needed to get off the top line, why not switch it up?

 

[ryno23]

Matthews led our team in hits. He was #2 in blocks. He had 14 takeaways to 3 giveaways (Marner 4 takeaways to 6 giveaways). 55% on faceoffs.

He couldn't bury it and hit iron a lot, but Matthews was at least playing his ass off.

also probably playing with a wrist injury still

 

[Duffman955]

Marner didnt even look like he tried

Matthew's at least made his own plays and went into tough areas.

Marner just shied away all series

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

that's from Toronto Maple Leafs News, Opinion & Analysis | MLHS

Forget about rotating. I can pull up multiple dirty snipes and one timers Nylander has gotten from the half wall (as well as some great assists) Marner can only pass from that spot and nothing else (as evident by his 0 PP goals). Should have always had Matthews and Nylander on opposite sides and Marner down low or in the middle. The only thing I can think of as to why this didn't happen is because Marner would get bullied down there. Nylander is strong enough to park himself in front of the net. Marner, not so much.

Mitch is great at flipping the puck over the glass

Same amount of playoff goals as delay of game penalties lol.

 

[Swervin81]

I'm 100% onboard with trading Mitch. However, you can't do it recklessly. Trading Marner for Jones would be a Hall for Larsson level disaster move (even if you attach a 2nd to Jones). Frankly, any satisfactory move involving Marner would be a soft reset kinda move, where you acquire a couple of highly regarded young players breaking into/about to break into the league to fit the window and even take on a short term 1-2yr overpayment ($6-7M total) to increase your haul. Then you'd grow these players alongside Sandin and Robertson to kinda be the new core pieces surrounding the other core three (like WSH did, moving on from Semin/Green as core pieces and transitioning to Kuznetsov/Carlson). It would be a statement move to send a message and it would serve as a good way to pivot to another philosophy because the one we have currently tried hasn't worked.

Think of something like the Jeff Carter trade from Philly to CBJ.

 

[RoadWarrior]

I'm 100% onboard with trading Mitch. However, you can't do it recklessly. Trading Marner for Jones would be a Hall for Larsson level disaster move (even if you attach a 2nd to Jones). Frankly, any satisfactory move involving Marner would be a soft reset kinda move, where you acquire a couple of highly regarded young players breaking into/about to break into the league to fit the window and even take on a short term 1-2yr overpayment ($6-7M total) to increase your haul. Then you'd grow these players alongside Sandin and Robertson to kinda be the new core pieces surrounding the other core three (like WSH did, moving on from Semin/Green as core pieces and transitioning to Kuznetsov/Carlson). It would be a statement move to send a message and it would serve as a good way to pivot to another philosophy because the one we have currently tried hasn't worked.

Think of something like the Jeff Carter trade from Philly to CBJ.

Marner for Jones would be highway robbery...... for the Leafs.

 

[67leafs]

Marner needs to go.....he’s way too soft.
Even Willy mucked it up and went to the tough areas.....

‘marner flips and flops all over the ice.

 

[Gallagbi]

Marner for Jones would be highway robbery...... for the Leafs.

Jones is gone in a year

 

[RoadWarrior]

Jones is gone in a year

That's why you sign him to an extension as part of the deal.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

The problem I have is squeezing the organization for every penny...7 x $10 million is not enough? 8 x $11 million is not enough? And even for that amount they weren't happy...Darren Ferris sounded peeved in his interview after they signed that contract because they were ready to hold out for more if the news didn't go public to the fans and media that Marner rejected the Leafs offer of 7 x $10 million. The optics look bad, and now that he's a playoff no-show 2 years straight into his new contract, he's painted himself into a corner of possibly being traded out of his hometown, and that's his own doing.

Yes .. but Mitch has not financially squeezed da Leafs .. Mitch has squeezed da league salary CAP and impacted other aspects of team building for sure .. da Leafs could lose a million or three and not even realize it left them .. it is really only an issue in TO because hockey is a religion here

 

[Gallagbi]

That's why you sign him to an extension as part of the deal.

Then you don't get him.

 

[Amadeus]

If there is any player out there that I'd entertain trading Marner for, it's Seth Jones or Jack Eichel in a package.

Trading Marner to Columbus for Jones will not only net us a top pairing D-man, but even if we're able to re-sign Jones long term, we'll likely be able to do that for less than what Marner is on the hook for, allowing us to make our team more deeper up front.

I still think Marner is a star in the making as he gets stronger and stronger. There is a lot of justified resentment here due to him being an absolutely no show when playing meaningful hockey. His style, at this time, just doesn't cut it for playoff hockey.

It's a move that can come to bite us in the long run as I think he'll eventually break out of this, and flourish. Just a lot of resentment right now though.

 

[RoadWarrior]

Then you don't get him.

It's up to Jones. The most important factor would be his desire to win in Toronto. If he doesn't want to play here then trade for somebody else.

 

[ORRFForever]

This is the biggest question to me. Why the **** didn't Keefe put Willy with Matthews after game 5. It was painfully obvious that Marner needed to get off the top line, why not switch it up?

That's a terrific question.

If Marner were to get traded, and that's a big IF, Nylander would likely get bumped up to Matthews line - especially if the Leafs were to get "pieces" instead of a superstar for superstar trade.

 

[Superstar]

Yes .. but Mitch has not financially squeezed da Leafs .. Mitch has squeezed da league salary CAP and impacted other aspects of team building for sure .. da Leafs could lose a million or three and not even realize it left them .. it is really only an issue in TO because hockey is a religion here

Of course it's all within the context of the salary cap...if he could get more dollar, he would.

 

[Nylanderthal]

I don’t disagree.
Why sell him at an all time low? Who would take him knowing he’s owed 17 mill?

If we trade him, we have to ensure we get better as we’re a competitive team. I don’t think we would get better while losing Marner. Teams won’t exactly pay full value and I dunno how many owners would even sign off on a Marner trade knowing the money owed to him.

I am not happy at all. I think he’s over paid, just like Tavares was a stupid signing and the team is overall very weak minded and physically weak.

This mess has been made and the course has been set

Once his 9.6m bonus is paid out in the offseason he’s owed just shy of $25m for the upcoming 4 seasons including just $750k for the upcoming season, those things matter to budget teams

 

[CincoHolio]

This is the biggest question to me. Why the **** didn't Keefe put Willy with Matthews after game 5. It was painfully obvious that Marner needed to get off the top line, why not switch it up?

For anyone paying attention, Mitch and Auston had lost chemistry over a handful of games before the playoffs even started. Combine that with the fact, Foligno looked the best on that line to the point they were quite dominant and when he got injured that line has been bad ever since. Keefe messed around with lines way too much prior to the playoffs I firmly believe. And his reluctance to line match the top line was a huge red flag for me when I heard him say he wouldn't. Incredibly arrogant of Keefe and I'd say he has some serious egg on his face today.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

This is the biggest question to me. Why the **** didn't Keefe put Willy with Matthews after game 5. It was painfully obvious that Marner needed to get off the top line, why not switch it up?

Here here .. I have been saying this after game 1 .. it was da most obvious change that could have been made to help team score .. Willy can fly and shoot

 

[AndyWozniewski]

This guy had the audacity to demand an A on his jersey after his ridiculous contract signing. And where is he when it comes time to actually lead? Completely invisible. What a joke of a player.

 

[ORRFForever]

Marner is not getting traded.

The Leafs will not give up his PPG and his chemistry with Matthews. If he continues to bleep the bed in the playoffs, they will just live with it and hope things go right one year.

 

[Aus34Matt]

This is the biggest question to me. Why the **** didn't Keefe put Willy with Matthews after game 5. It was painfully obvious that Marner needed to get off the top line, why not switch it up?

Because Keefe had to do the the opposite of everything Babcock did and hope for the best with his limited experience.

 

[Mats13]

Marner for one of the Tkachuk brothers. At least they will give their left nut for the team and play until they can't stand anymore.

Tkachuk-Matthews-Nylander

Make it Matthew and that line would be so amazing to watch.

One can dream I guess. Realistically we’ll be back here next spring watching Marner suck again.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

Marner is not getting traded.

The Leafs will not give up his PPG and his chemistry with Matthews. If he continues to bleep the bed in the playoffs, they will just live with it and hope things go right one year.

The regular season PPG doesn't have much meaning or value if we lose to inferior teams. It'd be better to score less points if it meant we'd have won this round.

 

[darrylsittler27]

Big changes are coming. This team will lose fans next year otherwise. Reg season means nothing if your core sucks. Keefe is an amateur coach and Dubas is not the right Gm to win a cup. It's like obvious. Joke organization.

 

[ORRFForever]

The regular season PPG doesn't have much meaning or value if we lose to inferior teams. It'd be better to score less points if it meant we'd have won this round.

We say that now but once the regular season starts...

Fans have short memories and they LOVE seeing Marner and Matthews light it up for 82 games.