The Curious Case of Mitch Marner discussion thread.

[Leafsfan74]

Do people still care about what Mitch or Auston do in the regular season?

I haven't cared since they lost to the Caps. Sure, in the season prior last before the shutdown, I was rooting for Matthews to challenge Vaives record, but none of it matters unless they deliver in the post-season.

That philosophy is projected to the entire team. They know it as well.

 

[Leafsfan74]

My issue with Mitch in the playoffs isn’t that he didn’t try or care….it’s that he seemed to have the yips. He was somehow unable to relax and just play. It’s seemed to get worse and it was painful to watch. Hopefully that’s not the case and he has a huge playoff this year.

we will all feel better then. I do have to say, as fun as they were to watch this year, it will be tough to feel invested in them if they don’t make some changes over the next couple of days.

That will continue to happen as the opposition teams cut off the middle, clog it up and erase his East/West game come playoffs. They know precisely how to nullify him.

If he hasn't learned to dump it in once in awhile by this point, when will he? Is he simply uncomfortable with any brand of hockey but the look he finds in the regular season hockey?

 

[Racer88]

Mitch could get 90 assists with the right LW'er.

Who cares how many he gets if he goes invisible in the playoffs for a 4th year in a row

 

[mapleleaf979]

Mitch's contract is fine, people have no perspective on things, they judge Mitch by a handful of playoff games.

The worst contract on the team is the 2c, Tavares. Based on last year, Tavares is worth 7.5 million MAX. Tavares has terrible first 3 strides, back pressure eats him up, he is often swarmed and cant go anywhere.

 

[ToneDog]

Mitch's contract is fine, people have no perspective on things, they judge Mitch by a handful of playoff games.

The worst contract on the team is the 2c, Tavares. Based on last year, Tavares is worth 7.5 million MAX. Tavares has terrible first 3 strides, back pressure eats him up, he is often swarmed and cant go anywhere.

Tavares' game translates to the playoffs and to my knowledge has a few goals in his last 18 playoff games and no over the glass penalties. Both are overpaid but one had all the leverage.

 

[Gabriel426]

I just love it how Marner fans need to use other under perform players in playoffs to justify Marner’s performance. The fact that you are doing that means you are admitting Marner is underperforming.
Marner is a good player, maybe even great, heck, barring injuries he should be a HOF but if he choke in the playoffs again, again and again, that’s his legacy, HOF regular season player but Mr. Choke in playoffs.
True is, the better he plays in the regular season, the more he needs to perform in the playoffs. 0 goals in 18 playoffs games and 4 assists in 7 games, while going no show in series deciding games just won’t cut it.
It is not hard for Marner to redeem himself, afterall, all it takes is a good playoff run.

 

[Canadian Finn]

Mitch's contract is fine, people have no perspective on things, they judge Mitch by a handful of playoff games.

The worst contract on the team is the 2c, Tavares. Based on last year, Tavares is worth 7.5 million MAX. Tavares has terrible first 3 strides, back pressure eats him up, he is often swarmed and cant go anywhere.

Fine you say?

No perspective you say?

I guess there is one in every crowd.

 

[Stonehands1990]

In fairness to Mitch he put up 9 points in one of the Boston series. It would help a lot if we had a coach who knew how to play the matchup game

 

[Superstar]

Ovechkin was 32 when they won their cup. They missed the playoffs the year he was 28. Interestingly Grabovski was on that team. Marner is 23. No I'm not comparing them and I really don't want to debate comparisons between other players or teams but the point is that sometimes these things take time. Washington didn't trade OV. You don't trade guys like Marner even if they are a bit overpaid. In fact you actually do stay the course. Fortunately, I'm pretty sure that Marner won't be traded.

I think Marner will done as a Leaf if he does jack in the playoffs next season and the Leafs bow out in round one again. Can't have that kind of caphit doing squat in the playoffs.

 

[Stonehands1990]

I think Marner will done as a Leaf if he does jack in the playoffs next season and the Leafs bow out in round one again. Can't have that kind of caphit doing squat in the playoffs.

With a coach who knows how to match lines there’s no reason 34 & 16 won’t produce like they did in the playoffs under Babcock. Teams employ a 5 man shutdown commitment when they’re on the ice plus Keefe is strolling them out there when they are dog tired. The problem is that Keefe is a moron

 

[ACC1224]

Who cares how many he gets if he goes invisible in the playoffs for a 4th year in a row

I don’t follow GDTs but I imagine that will be posted 1000s of times this season.
Feel sorry for those who will miss the season moaning about the past and bitching about the future. To each their own I guess.

 

[Racer88]

I don’t follow GDTs but I imagine that will be posted 1000s of times this season.
Feel sorry for those who will miss the season moaning about the past and bitching about the future. To each their own I guess.

I won’t miss a single game but that doesn’t mean that I won’t call out a player that demanded an outrageous contract then fails to show up when it matters. However you are correct that it does get hashed over way to much and I am guilty of that as well.
Speaking for myself it’s just the frustration of watching the same shit show every year and not being able to do anything about it. I should never watched Marners season ending presser……that display of arrogance really triggered me. Lol

 

[ACC1224]

I won’t miss a single game but that doesn’t mean that I won’t call out a player that demanded an outrageous contract then fails to show up when it matters. However you are correct that it does get hashed over way to much and I am guilty of that as well.
Speaking for myself it’s just the frustration of watching the same shit show every year and not being able to do anything about it. I should never watched Marners season ending presser……that display of arrogance really triggered me. Lol

I think those that are bothered by what players say are looking to be. His comments didn’t bother me in the least. Pretty sure no matter what he said some would interpret it in their own way.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Ovechkin was 32 when they won their cup. They missed the playoffs the year he was 28. Interestingly Grabovski was on that team. Marner is 23. No I'm not comparing them and I really don't want to debate comparisons between other players or teams but the point is that sometimes these things take time. Washington didn't trade OV. You don't trade guys like Marner even if they are a bit overpaid. In fact you actually do stay the course. Fortunately, I'm pretty sure that Marner won't be traded.

Simple question - why not?

You've just painted yourself in a box with that statement, why would you do that? I mean you're just a fan like I am but if you were the GM and thought that way, that would be just terrible. And these things don't always take time, many players have playoff success at a young age. And these things don't always have happy endings either, if you think it's a given that we win a cup with Marner and it's just a matter of time then you're kidding yourself.

Mitch's contract is fine, people have no perspective on things, they judge Mitch by a handful of playoff games.

The worst contract on the team is the 2c, Tavares. Based on last year, Tavares is worth 7.5 million MAX. Tavares has terrible first 3 strides, back pressure eats him up, he is often swarmed and cant go anywhere.

Playoff games are the most important games there are and if you ignore them then you're the one lacking perspective. Unless of course you don't care about winning in the playoffs, is that how you feel? And it's too bad Mitch plays like a braindead gutless wimp in the playoffs, if instead he played like a man with a bit of fire in his belly we'd almost certainly have more playoff games to judge him by.

In fairness to Mitch he put up 9 points in one of the Boston series. It would help a lot if we had a coach who knew how to play the matchup game

You have to go a long way back for those memories and In fairness to the organization paying his salary, one good playoff series followed by three bad ones when he's expected to be older, stronger, smarter, more experienced and just better in every way just doesn't cut it.

I don’t follow GDTs but I imagine that will be posted 1000s of times this season.
Feel sorry for those who will miss the season moaning about the past and bitching about the future. To each their own I guess.

The past provides context for the present, that's reality. If you can ignore the past and therefore enjoy the season forgetting about this teams pathetic playoff history over the last X number of years, hey good for you. In a way I even envy you so what can I say, enjoy the season.

 

[DcW]

I think Marner will done as a Leaf if he does jack in the playoffs next season and the Leafs bow out in round one again. Can't have that kind of caphit doing squat in the playoffs.

The danger there is his value if that happens. With a flat cap and another poor performance, would be hard to get value. This off-season may be the best time to get a return

 

[Racer88]

I think those that are bothered by what players say are looking to be. His comments didn’t bother me in the least. Pretty sure no matter what he said some would interpret it in their own way.

On an intellectual level I agree but the emotional side of my brain wants it’s pound of flesh.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

Leaf fans for sure do.

As a Leafs fan I honestly don't. Baring injuries, Mitch is a lock for 90+ points and Matthews 40+goals.

Good on the fans that are still interested in what the Leafs do during the regular season. I'm sure the players and management really appreciate that level of support. Season after season these playoffs woes have left a sour taste in my mouth, but after being up 3-1 to the Habs and proceeding to loose the next 3 games it felt like someone dumped a whole container of salt in there.

Some people want to see Matthews and Marner win all the trophies and get all the accolades. I do too, however I'd take them not winning a single personal award and making it to the SCF 10/10. That's why I don't care what they do in the regular season. They are regular season stat stuffers. At the end of the day, it doesn't mean much if all it takes is some checking and a hot goalie to completely shut you down.

 

[ACC1224]

As a Leafs fan I honestly don't. Baring injuries, Mitch is a lock for 90+ points and Matthews 40+goals.

Good on the fans that are still interested in what the Leafs do during the regular season. I'm sure the players and management really appreciate that level of support. Season after season these playoffs woes have left a sour taste in my mouth, but after being up 3-1 to the Habs and proceeding to loose the next 3 games it felt like someone dumped a whole container of salt in there.

Some people want to see Matthews and Marner win all the trophies and get all the accolades. I do too, however I'd take them not winning a single personal award and making it to the SCF 10/10. That's why I don't care what they do in the regular season. They are regular season stat stuffers. At the end of the day, it doesn't mean much if all it takes is some checking and a hot goalie to completely shut you down.

This could be the year. That's what gets me through every season.

 

[666]

Simple question - why not?
You've just painted yourself in a box with that statement, why would you do that? I mean you're just a fan like I am but if you were the GM and thought that way, that would be just terrible. And these things don't always take time, many players have playoff success at a young age. And these things don't always have happy endings either, if you think it's a given that we win a cup with Marner and it's just a matter of time then you're kidding yourself.

All I'm saying is let's see how things go with another year of growth, more tweaking and no Hyman. Anyone is tradable but the way LeafsNation (not necessarily you) talks about Marner he's so ridiculously overpaid that he has negative value anyway.

 

[666]

I think Marner will done as a Leaf if he does jack in the playoffs next season and the Leafs bow out in round one again. Can't have that kind of caphit doing squat in the playoffs.

I think Leaf Nation has made Marner the scapegoat for a lot of things going wrong and in particular the flat cap.

 

[BackPassChampions]

I think Leaf Nation has made Marner the scapegoat for a lot of things going wrong and in particular the flat cap.

Marner deserves the criticism. He is just as much as fault for the cap situation as our GM. 11 million dollars for him was always a mistake, and I've said this since day 1.

 

[Gary Nylund]

All I'm saying is let's see how things go with another year of growth, more tweaking and no Hyman. Anyone is tradable but the way LeafsNation (not necessarily you) talks about Marner he's so ridiculously overpaid that he has negative value anyway.

I respect your opinion, mine is just different and that's fine (I'd put him on the block immediately, if not sooner).

People are idiots, of course he doesn't have negative value. But he's worth a lot more to a team that wants to sell tickets and cares more about real dollars than cap space than he is to the Maple Leafs. JMHO.

I think Leaf Nation has made Marner the scapegoat for a lot of things going wrong and in particular the flat cap.

For those looking for a scapegoat, in terms of playoff performance compared to cap hit, he stands tall above the crowd.

 

[Lemontree]

Mitch's contract is fine, people have no perspective on things, they judge Mitch by a handful of playoff games.

The worst contract on the team is the 2c, Tavares. Based on last year, Tavares is worth 7.5 million MAX. Tavares has terrible first 3 strides, back pressure eats him up, he is often swarmed and cant go anywhere.

Tavares is far more valuable that Marner. A center who can score 35 to 40 goals over a play making winger with little goal scoring abilities. Hilarious that so many posters hear love Hyman because he is hard on the puck and is a puck hound, Tavares does the exact same thing on the cycle and around the net but actually has hands to finish plays.

Tavares contract isn’t great but understandable why he received it, top UFA who had been a top line C for his entire NHL career. Anyone who whines about being without Tavares, look at their middle of the ice without him. You saw the preview this past 1st round loss.

 

[666]

Marner deserves the criticism. He is just as much as fault for the cap situation as our GM. 11 million dollars for him was always a mistake, and I've said this since day 1.

Even if he's a million or two overpaid everyone should be much more angry that we are STILL paying Kessel $1.2M but no one seems to care about that. If the covid cap hadn't flattened, with expansion the cap would have been approaching $100M soon and his cap hit would be fine. Imagine last years roster plus $15M more give or take.

 

[mikerooooose]

I'll probably get banned for saying this, but I don't think it's 100% if Marner was left exposed that the Kraken would take him. He is a little boy on a big contract.