You're presenting your opinion as fact, but the reality isn’t as one-sided as you're making it seem. Yes, Marner is a great all-around player, but calling him ‘better’ in every situation ignores key factors. Rantanen is the superior goal scorer, he drives offense in ways Marner doesn’t, and his ability to dominate possession and create plays under pressure makes him just as impactful, especially when it matters most.
You keep insisting Marner is better in all facets, but that’s an oversimplification. Rantanen has produced at an elite level at 5v5, on the power play, and in clutch moments. His ability to score in multiple ways, use his size to protect the puck, and excel in high-pressure situations is what makes the comparison far more even than you’re willing to admit.
You're conceding that Rantanen is the better goal scorer, but downplaying how significant that is. Goal scoring is the most valuable offensive skill, and Rantanen’s ability to finish plays at an elite level makes up for any supposed gap in playmaking. And while Marner may be a better pure playmaker, it’s not by a huge margin. Rantanen still creates at an elite level while also being the more dangerous individual offensive threat.
"Exactly. Iimpact is measured by results, and Rantanen’s results speak for themselves. You can’t just dismiss certain attributes because they don’t fit your argument. His goal-scoring, size, and ability to control possession directly contribute to his success, and the fact that he consistently produces at an elite level proves their value.
You’re acting like I’m handing out ‘bonus points’ for physical tools, but in reality, those tools are what enable Rantanen to be as dominant as he is. Just because his strengths are different from Marner’s doesn’t make them any less valuable. If results are what matter, then Rantanen’s elite production—especially in high-pressure moments—should be given just as much weight as Marner’s overall game."
I'm not ignoring anything. I'm emphasizing playoffs because that’s where individual impact is magnified the most. Regular-season success matters, but the ultimate test of a player’s value is how they perform when the stakes are highest. Rantanen has consistently elevated his game in those moments, and that’s not just about raw production, it’s about how he produces, when he produces, and the impact it has on winning.
You keep saying I’m ‘ignoring context,’ but what you’re really doing is trying to discredit production when it doesn’t support your argument. If Rantanen is outproducing Marner in playoff situations, that’s not something you can just brush off as ‘different circumstances’—those circumstances are the same pressure-filled environments where the best players prove their worth. Instead of downplaying what Rantanen has done, maybe acknowledge that his ability to consistently deliver in those moments is a key reason why he's better.
If I were just looking for a fight, I wouldn’t be providing reasoned arguments backed by facts. Disagreeing with you doesn’t mean I’m ‘misrepresenting’ anything, it just means I’m challenging a perspective that I don’t think holds up under scrutiny.
You accuse me of cherry-picking, but you’re the one dismissing key aspects of Rantanen’s game while presenting Marner as superior in every category without acknowledging legitimate counterpoints. If you were truly here for a productive discussion, you’d engage with those counterpoints instead of resorting to personal attacks. If you want to debate hockey, let’s do that. But if your response to disagreement is to question my intentions, that says more about your approach to this conversation than it does about mine.
I provided more than just goal stats, I highlighted Rantanen’s overall impact, his ability to take over games, and the value of his skill set. You keep trying to reduce my argument to a single stat to make it seem like I have no case, but that’s just misrepresenting what I’ve said.
At the end of the day, if you’re going to claim Marner is objectively better in every way, then you need to acknowledge the full picture, including the areas, more of them, where Rantanen has a legitimate edge."
I’ve been presenting a balanced evaluation, not ignoring context but instead highlighting Rantanen’s consistent excellence in the playoffs, his goal-scoring ability, and overall impact. You claim to ‘follow the facts,’ but by dismissing Rantanen’s strengths in favor of your own narrative, you’re narrowing the scope of the discussion. Playoff performance matters because that’s when players truly prove their worth, and Rantanen has delivered in those moments.
It’s not about pumping up one player, it’s about acknowledging both their unique attributes. If you’re going to dismiss my points as ‘subjective’ every time they don’t fit your view, then, yes, it does seem like we’re too far apart to have a productive discussion.
They will ride this overhyped core out to the very end. I'm not even convinced that Marner is gone, IMO this leak is a negotiating tactic, the next is to leak the numbers in the summer. That worked for the last contract. Then we'll see them turn around and act like it's all hunky dory again.
