Will Mitch Marner become star?

[Wafflewhipper]

For the first part of this year I'll admit that Marner has been bad defensively but lately he's definitely shored up and looks good.

JVR/Bozak bring the same defensive game they've brought for all their careers. And it ain't good.

Pretty obvious why this line stays together, JVR and Bozak both put up career high offensive numbers last year, a lot of it because of Marner's terrific puck distribution abilities.

I find Mess' position on Marner's ice-time to be rather dishonest. I think he'd look just fine on a non-sheltered line with better linemates and more ice-time.

Kapanen /Tavares /Marner or Hyman /Matthews /Nylander would not look much different in goals and points at the end of next season if we were lucky enough to land Tavares.

 

[ULF_55]

For the first part of this year I'll admit that Marner has been bad defensively but lately he's definitely shored up and looks good.

JVR/Bozak bring the same defensive game they've brought for all their careers. And it ain't good.

Pretty obvious why this line stays together, JVR and Bozak both put up career high offensive numbers last year, a lot of it because of Marner's terrific puck distribution abilities.

I find Mess' position on Marner's ice-time to be rather dishonest. I think he'd look just fine on a non-sheltered line with better linemates and more ice-time.

I never thought Marner was bad defensively, but I now don't think he's good defensively.

van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Marner are equally ineffective defensively, but they are strong offensively.

No crap, none of them are strong defensively, and trying to make it something else is just trying too hard.

 

[frizzer1]

If this board existed back in the day, we'd be reading about how 20 year old Darryl Sittler couldn't skate well enough to be elite ,
that Lanny Mcdonald at 20, had a wrist shot and not much else and was not producing and should be traded,
that Frank Mahovlich at 2o, had talent but couldn't put it all together.
that Rick Vaive was traded by the canucks because he was a high draft pick bust,
that Al iafrate couldn't play defense..
and on..

 

[Wafflewhipper]

I never thought Marner was bad defensively, but I now don't think he's good defensively.

van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Marner are equally ineffective defensively, but they are strong offensively.

No crap, none of them are strong defensively, and trying to make it something else is just trying too hard.

They are minus 9 on goal differential at present and that has improved from early in the season when they were a minus in the mid twenties.

Their possession numbers have improved their differential, that and they have pucked it up in scoring. They produce points/60 better than any line on the team.

Marner drives the line. He is driving them up. If Jvr and Bozak both end the year with a + differential it will be the first time ever as line mates.

Not great defensively but improved nonetheless.

 

[meefer]

They are minus 9 on goal differential at present and that has improved from early in the season when they were a minus in the mid twenties.

Their possession numbers have improved their differential, that and they have pucked it up in scoring. They produce points/60 better than any line on the team.

Marner drives the line. He is driving them up. If Jvr and Bozak both end the year with a + differential it will be the first time ever as line mates.

Not great defensively but improved nonetheless.

During the past 15 games I'll give JVR and Bozak the benefit of this improvement, but their historical records indicate, strongly, that they are defensive liabilities. I'm not calling either a bad player, or a bad person, nothing other than bad defensive hockey players. They both have qualities which should continue to help a franchise. My preference would be that franchise is not the Maple Leafs. However, Marner is a player who at least attempts to play a defensive game, maybe more last year than this, and is at an age where his 'coachability' is higher than the other two. He's a young player with talent, drive and should be a constant in the blue and white for many years to come.

 

[Mr Hockey]

During the past 15 games I'll give JVR and Bozak the benefit of this improvement, but their historical records indicate, strongly, that they are defensive liabilities. I'm not calling either a bad player, or a bad person, nothing other than bad defensive hockey players. They both have qualities which should continue to help a franchise. My preference would be that franchise is not the Maple Leafs. However, Marner is a player who at least attempts to play a defensive game, maybe more last year than this, and is at an age where his 'coachability' is higher than the other two. He's a young player with talent, drive and should be a constant in the blue and white for many years to come.

What exactly are JVR and Bozak doing wrong defensively and what is Marner doing better, in your opinion?

 

[meefer]

What exactly are JVR and Bozak doing wrong defensively and what is Marner doing better, in your opinion?

Oh My Buddha. You have been watching the Leafs for the past 6,7,8 years, yes?

 

[stickty111]

Marner is a better defensive player then Bozak and JVR. Its not even up for debate.
What exactly are Bozak and JVR better in defensively that Marner isnt?

 

[Mr Hockey]

I'm done. Just waiting to read about defending Bozak, opposing Corsi, and how another team's prospect is better than the Leafs. Can you do that about 40k times? Thanks.

I have no problem with replacing Bozak with a quicker offensive driving centre to help Mitch. I don't know what "opposing Corsi" means? Are you talking about who has the better prospect pools?

 

[hobarth]

Prior to last year Bozak and JVR spent the most of their time with Kessel, that line always struggled to outscore the opposition even tho they put up decent numbers.

2 years ago Bozak and JVR with PA put up decent numbers until they were injured but they were able to score well but again had problems outscoring their opponents. How did they do that, Babs played them against easier matchups and played Kadri mostly against the opposition's best.

Last year Bozak, JVR and Marner had great seasons and by the end of last year Kadri's line and Matthews' line were doing the heavy lifting.

Even in an ever increasingly less responsible role the Bozak line just continues to struggle, I can't figure out why that line is still together?

 

[meefer]

I have, but I was curious to hear your opinion.

Both see most of their time starting in the O zone, Babcock doesn't trust them, and while Bozak had the FO% working for him before, the new rules have hurt his ability to win draws.
Both are seeing protected time.
Both, especially JVR, are lazy back checkers.
JVR's gap control with his Dman responsibility in the Dzone is atrocious.
Even when playing down low he doesn't get physically engaged, often just waving his stick or watching someone fly by.
Bozak is similarly lost, but as a C has greater responsibilities.
We've seen both JVR and Bozak suffer when paired with Kessel, and while here he was no soul of defensive dedication, but even with new wingers, even with reduced competition, even with reduced ice time, we see both players suffer in the D zone.

Again, both have abilities, I value JVR more highly as I think most do. However, his track record is not good when it comes to being defensively responsible...or capable?
Marner, who can be a buzz saw in both ends of the rink, offers a greater potential for being taught defensive responsibility. He's young, dynamic, and passionate about being a Leaf. I believe he wants to become the best player he can become and will work with Babcock to become that player. I don't believe this to be the case with JVR, what you see is what you get. I will grant that his placement with Bozak and Marner (and Kessel) were worst case scenarios as they magnified his weaknesses by not having defensively competent line mates.

 

[mrJT]

He looks like a superstar again tonight. He's impossible to defend when he's rolling like this, he's just so friggin smart offensively.

 

[Ash35]

Now tied for the team lead in pts. Yeah Matthews missed 10 games but considering his slow start still great.

 

[Garthinater]

If you voted "no" you should be ashamed

 

[The List Of Jericho]

Kid’s a stud look at that magic on that last play at the line

 

[MJ65]

He is a super star period and I hope we never see those threads again - if we we have a chance to pick again when he was picked

I would still pick him - no matter what

 

[stickty111]

Imagine when we get him linemates up to his level. Wow.
Barzal though

 

[lovemyleafs]

Holy f***... 9 points in his last 4 games...

 

[93LEAFS]

So much for a sophomore slump. Basically on the same pace he was last year. Lets see if he can ever improve on it. Best part is, it's coming with more sustainable numbers and better possession.

 

[PromisedLand]

• Marner is too small
• Marner should be sent to AHL
• Marner should be traded
• Marner is dragging his line down
• Marner has no hockey IQ

 

[BayStreetBully]

Matthews, Marner and Nylander are now 1-2-3 in team scoring. As it should be.

 

[mallory67]

That assist on Marleau's second goal tho ...
The speed at which he makes plays is hard to comprehend.

Shame if you voted NO.

 

[PromisedLand]

Matthews, Marner and Nylander are now 1-2-3 in team scoring. As it should be.

10M X 8yrs - Matthews

8M X 8yrs - Marner

7 M X 8yrs - Nylander

TOTAL: 25M for 3 players running three lines locked up for a decade at least. Not too shabby....

 

[BayStreetBully]

10M X 8yrs - Matthews

8M X 8yrs - Marner

7 M X 8yrs - Nylander

TOTAL: 25M for 3 players running three lines locked up for a decade at least. Not too shabby....

Marner won’t get $8 million. But am happy with all three running the show for the next decade.

 

[PromisedLand]

Marner won’t get $8 million. But am happy with all three running the show for the next decade.

The way Mitch is going; and given that he gets sheltered minutes especially at home - I think he is going to surpass his point totals from last season. I am expecting Mitch to hit anywhere between 65 to 75 points this season.

And if he hits that he is probably going to get 8M