Toronto Maple Leafs: Marner Coming Up Big
Mitch Marner leading the Way for the Toronto Maple leafs.
After a slow start to his second season, questions began to rise about whether Mitch Marner was experiencing a sophomore slump. Marner was actually playing well, and you could tell if you dug into the stats, but when the results aren’t there, most people don’t look any deeper. Suddenly, the results starting coming and every since the new year, the Toronto Maple Leafs young forward is among the best players in the NHL.
Going back the regular season, one of the best lineup changes that Mike Babcock made was taking Marner off the line with JVR and Bozak and putting him with Marleau and Kadri. Nazem Kadri was off to a slow start this season until Mitch Marner was put on his line. Marner has that special play making ability where he makes everyone better that he plays with. He has become a game changer for The Toronto Maple Leafs.
The strides that Mitch Marner has taken in his play not only from his rookie season, but the huge leaps he has made through this season has been impressive. A major indicator of this is the line that Marner has played on during this series. Playing on a line with defensively responsible players, Patrick Marleau and Tomas Plekanec, it has forced Marner to become a 200 foot player. There is no way Babcock would trust Marner a year ago to play on a line tasked with shutting down arguably the best line in the NHL.
Playoff Stats
Through six games in this first round series Marner leads the team with 8 points. Seemingly every time he steps on the ice something positive happens.
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Marner is so highly talented he can create scoring chances on plays where it seems like not much is happening. A good example of this was his goal in game 6. Ron Hainsey took a shot from the point that was partially blocked, and looked like the Bruins were going to transition the other way. Two strides up ice by Bruins d man Torey Krug gave Marner the space he needed to put a perfect back hand past Rask to take the lead.
Stepping up for his Teammates
Mitch Marner’s importance to the Toronto Maple Leafs has been magnified throughout the regular season, and now more so in the Playoffs. With Auston Mathews missing 20 games, Marner was relied on heavily to step his game up, which he did carrying the Leafs and finishing with 69 points.
This playoffs Marner has become a different animal. At a time when the Leafs needed the best version of Marner the most, he has delivered. Auston Mathews and William Nylander have been quiet for most of this series only registering a combined 4 points. A big reason for Mathews being slowed down is because he has had to play against Patrice Bergeron, one of the best two way players in the league. Even at home when the Leafs have had last change Mathews has seen a heavy dose of Zdeno Chara making it tough to get to high scoring areas. There is no question the Leafs need more from their franchise center and highly talented winger who is playing for a new contract.
Next: From the Netherlands to Toronto Vol. 2
With games 1 and 2 being the disaster that they were, its hard to believe this series has made it to a game 7. Mitch Marner is a major reason why. He has been their best position player by far, and without Freddy Andersen playing the way he has the past couple games, Marner would be the Leafs playoff MVP so far. Anything can happen in a game 7, and with Mitch Marner being a major reason the Leafs are still alive, it is time for everyone to step up.