Mitch Marner

[bustaheims]

Randy Numbers @randynumbers
Marner is now one of 7 active players w/ 30 assists in his first 50 NHL games. He joins Kane, McDavid, Crosby, Malkin, Backstrom & Ovechkin.

Guys, I can't tell, is that good company to be in?

Pfft. What have any of those players done?

 

[princedpw]

Randy Numbers @randynumbers
Marner is now one of 7 active players w/ 30 assists in his first 50 NHL games. He joins Kane, McDavid, Crosby, Malkin, Backstrom & Ovechkin.

Guys, I can't tell, is that good company to be in?

Pfft. What have any of those players done?

That does seem to be the sort of list where you can be last and still turn out pretty well.

 

[Redleaf]

Pretty decent company. And I have to follow up on my pre-season prediction that Marner may turn out to be the better player between himself and Matthews by the time the dust settles. Of course the jury's still out on that one, but it's certainly a legitimate race now with Marner surpassing Matthews in the rookie points total.

 

[Boston Leaf]

Marner and Matthews are two totally different style of players.. I am just glad they are both ours..

 

[Redleaf]

Marner and Matthews are two totally different style of players.. I am just glad they are both ours..

Completely fair point. We now have our very own dynamic duo.

 

[Frank E]

First time in NHL history a team has had 3 different players win RotM in the same season.

Ok, you're up next, Brown.

I know I've been pumping up his tires for a bit, but he's really an all 'round talent that can play in any situation, and as a rookie that's pretty commendable.

 

[L K]

First time in NHL history a team has had 3 different players win RotM in the same season.

Ok, you're up next, Brown.

I know I've been pumping up his tires for a bit, but he's really an all 'round talent that can play in any situation, and as a rookie that's pretty commendable.

He grew on me pretty quickly watching him against the Knights and seeing how he performed in the AHL.  His rookie season is beyond exceeding expectations however.

 

[disco]

https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/828775176275910656
Helluva list :

 

[Arn]

It's been sort of joked about a little, but at what point does he genuinely start to have a shot at the Calder ahead of Matthews, if any?

 

[Boston Leaf]

It's been sort of joked about a little, but at what point does he genuinely start to have a shot at the Calder ahead of Matthews, if any?

I think he absolutely does... But the Center position is a tougher position to play as a rookie and counted on to do more it seems. Tougher growing pains. Mitch while so talented has benefited by two decent vets who have assisted in his growth.. But again I love it we have both and 29 and the rest

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Per @mirtle, the last 12 players to reach 45 points in their first 51 games:

Is that good company???

 

[bustaheims]

Is that good company???

Is Scott Gomez good company?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Is that good company???

Is Scott Gomez good company?

He was until the Habs ruined him!

 

[disco]

https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/829129869262979078

 

[disco]

https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/829142940052312068
shoot, stick broke.... no worries...

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/831693280844865537
www.twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/831693280844865537

Our season in a microcosm.

 

[Coco-puffs]

Anybody else noticed that Marner has been playing a lot more "deep" in the defensive zone?  During the game last night I counted at least 4-5 times where Bozak was on the wing and Marner was down low helping the defense out.  It may have just been that Marner was the first on the backcheck (which happens often on that line), but often the C and W switch off when possible and they weren't doing that.

The main criticism I've always had about Bozak is that he doesn't move his feet in the defensive zone very much.  Always watching, from a half-decent "position" defensively, but doing nothing really to retrieve the puck and get it moving up ice. 

Marner was the opposite last night.  Whenever he was the man low in the zone, it seemed like they had no problem getting the puck and moving it up ice.  I wonder if Babcock has adjusted to Bozak's deficiency by asking Marner to do some more heavy lifting in the defensive zone.

 

[herman]

Anybody else noticed that Marner has been playing a lot more "deep" in the defensive zone?  During the game last night I counted at least 4-5 times where Bozak was on the wing and Marner was down low helping the defense out.  It may have just been that Marner was the first on the backcheck (which happens often on that line), but often the C and W switch off when possible and they weren't doing that.

The main criticism I've always had about Bozak is that he doesn't move his feet in the defensive zone very much.  Always watching, from a half-decent "position" defensively, but doing nothing really to retrieve the puck and get it moving up ice. 

Marner was the opposite last night.  Whenever he was the man low in the zone, it seemed like they had no problem getting the puck and moving it up ice.  I wonder if Babcock has adjusted to Bozak's deficiency by asking Marner to do some more heavy lifting in the defensive zone.

Yeah, good observation.

The Leafs tend to play fluid forwards, in that positions are only for lineup cards and faceoffs. The rest of the time, roles and responsibilities seem to be determined by relative proximity to the puck/play. They play a lot like a soccer team.

 

[Coco-puffs]

Anybody else noticed that Marner has been playing a lot more "deep" in the defensive zone?  During the game last night I counted at least 4-5 times where Bozak was on the wing and Marner was down low helping the defense out.  It may have just been that Marner was the first on the backcheck (which happens often on that line), but often the C and W switch off when possible and they weren't doing that.

The main criticism I've always had about Bozak is that he doesn't move his feet in the defensive zone very much.  Always watching, from a half-decent "position" defensively, but doing nothing really to retrieve the puck and get it moving up ice. 

Marner was the opposite last night.  Whenever he was the man low in the zone, it seemed like they had no problem getting the puck and moving it up ice.  I wonder if Babcock has adjusted to Bozak's deficiency by asking Marner to do some more heavy lifting in the defensive zone.

Yeah, good observation.

The Leafs tend to play fluid forwards, in that positions are only for lineup cards and faceoffs. The rest of the time, roles and responsibilities seem to be determined by relative proximity to the puck/play. They play a lot like a soccer team.

To some degree for sure.  However, very rarely would you see Matthews covering the point in the defensive zone even though Hyman and Brown are strong backcheckers.  With the Kadri line, you will see Nylander and Komarov the odd time due to the backcheck, but often I see them switch off when possible.  In Marner's case, I think coach has said don't switch off.

 

[herman]

The Leafs tend to play fluid forwards, in that positions are only for lineup cards and faceoffs. The rest of the time, roles and responsibilities seem to be determined by relative proximity to the puck/play. They play a lot like a soccer team.

I deeply regret missing this opportunity for a Kadri joke. I'll endeavour do better next time.