As many Toronto Maple Leafs fans all over the world are still recovering after having lost (once again) in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, one player has been getting more heat than others.
You’ve probably guessed who I’m thinking about. Mitch Marner. Number 16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He’s probably one of the NHL players who have been trending the most during this offseason (and last playoffs).
“Marner should be traded.” “Marner is overpaid.” “Marner should show up in the playoffs.”
The 24-year-old has been getting a lot of heat, and after his questionable playoff performance, it is understandable. But saying he should be traded is a step too far.
Mitch Marner is Here to Stay
Did he disappoint during the playoffs? Perhaps. Did he get paid a lot a bit too fast? Yes. Does any of that mean he is bad or should be traded? Absolutely not.
Let’s start by taking a look at his numbers from last season. In 55 regular-season games, he scored 20 goals and 67 points, for a rate of 1.22 points per game. He second in the league in 5v5 scoring.
However, in seven playoff games, he only got four assists for a rate of .57 points per game, which is a bit less than half his production rate from the regular season. While the production was bad, he did post great underlying numbers.
Let’s not forget his contract of $10.9 million AAV until 2025, with a no-movement clause kicking in starting 2023-24.
Although his performance in the playoffs could be better and absolutely needs to be better in the future, he is not the only one to blame, with the other half of the duo – and the rest of the team– also expected to step up.
Auston Matthews had one goal and five points in seven playoff games, as opposed to leading the regular season with 41 goals, and a total of 66 points in 52 games. That’s a rate of 1.27 points per game, as well as a rate of .79 goals per game. William Nylander scored more goals than Matthews in the playoffs, with five goals and eight points in seven games.
While this shows how fortunate the Toronto Maple Leafs are to have Nylander, it also shows how much Marner and Matthews need to be better when it matters the most. Matthews is a natural goal-scorer and Marner is a play-maker. They are both amazing players in their own ways, but both need to get better results in the playoffs.
However, neither should get traded, and separating them would be one of the biggest mistakes made in this era of the Leafs. They have so much chemistry, and it will only get stronger the more they play and grow together.
As the new season gets closer and the Leafs go back to the Atlantic Division, there seems to be a lot of doubt about the Leafs’ postseason success, more specifically, about whether they could make it past the first round.
The reality is that Marner is one of the best players in the NHL at this moment, no matter how questionable his playoff career has been.
Regardless of what happened in the postseason, and what might happen in future playoff appearances, this season should be an interesting one for the Leafs as they will be looking to prove they can be as good as the team they are on paper.
It will also be an important season for Marner and Matthews, who will look to produce in the playoffs and show they can be reliable.