He could a few Klingbergs with the Marner savings
- Canada Cup

What will he spend all that LTIR space on, though?

What will he spend all that LTIR space on, though?
- Whipper

Immobile plugs

High ankle sprains are well known to cause players to avoid physical contact.
- Whipper

Marner must get one every year before playoffs, in that case. Willie must have a bad sprain as well.

Marner must get one every year before playoffs, in that case. Willie must have a bad sprain as well.
- Ear Hole

Saw the ankle sprain incident like a hundred times. The play he didn’t shoot, went around the net and wiped out on his own.
That is a long recovery back to 100%.
- Woderwick

I've had multiple ankle sprains...some really bad, some also really bad. They suck and take forever to heal.

Never really seen one happen that way, especially with a molded skate boot on and no other weight bearing down on you. But okay, I'll take it at face value.

If he's back in and was back in for last part of the season. He has been cleared by the medical staff.

I've had multiple ankle sprains...some really bad, some also really bad. They suck and take forever to heal.

Never really seen one happen that way, especially with a molded skate boot on and no other weight bearing down on you. But okay, I'll take it at face value.

If he's back in and was back in for last part of the season. He has been cleared by the medical staff.
- underhill14

We do have to remember that these guys get the best treatment for recovery.

I mean Sergechev broke his leg and just competed in an NHL playoff game, it’s wild.

I really don’t see any excuse for Marner here.

I dont have a lot of Faith in Tree as a GM ...trading or other things.
but they hired him, what can you do at this point?

I think the Leafs need an actual #1 D.. Rielly is not it.
hes great for what he provides. But hes not the horse you can put out at any time to try and defend
- senstroll

Can we add a #1 and a #3 please and thank you.

We do have to remember that these guys get the best treatment for recovery.

I mean Sergechev broke his leg and just competed in an NHL playoff game, it’s wild.

I really don’t see any excuse for Marner here.
- Santo_44

Ya me neither.

On goaltending, wouldn't know if Boston's goalies are the best in the league or not. The Leafs have had very few if any HD chances. Bruins play a solid D game...unfortunately.

I wouldn't trade for or sign one of Boston's goalies either. Not sure their stats would hold up on another team.

Wasn't Ullmark whore'd around for a few years after Buffalo as a b/u tender?

On goaltending, wouldn't know if Boston's goalies are the best in the league or not. The Leafs have had very few if any HD chances. Bruins play a solid D game...unfortunately.

I wouldn't trade for or sign one of Boston's goalies either. Not sure their stats would hold up on another team.

Wasn't Ullmark whore'd around for a few years after Buffalo as a b/u tender?
- underhill14

There are very few goalies I’d actively seek out.

Saros, vasi, sorokin…probably it

Bobs contract sucks and is getting older.

Probably Demko too.

We thought losing Tavares against Montreal was bad but this is next level. I know everyone is going to say no excuses but holy crap.
- shack67

I'm all out of them.

Can we add a #1 and a #3 please and thank you.
- The Law

with Marner $$ off the books, thats no problem

Can we add a #1 and a #3 please and thank you.
- The Law

Who?

There are really none available.

None in free agency.

No team that has a surplus.

yeah, iv been think about this for a while.



what else could it be?
Players suckier at home?
- senstroll

AA would say it's there succubus causing the issue.
zapping the boyz from all their energies ..

Who?

There are really none available.

None in free agency.

No team that has a surplus.
- Santo_44

There are more in the ‘25 FA class which is when Marner $ is more likely to be available

There are more in the ‘25 FA class which is when Marner $ is more likely to be available
- Canada Cup

Yippie can’t wait

Who?

There are really none available.

None in free agency.

No team that has a surplus.
- Santo_44

In '25, there are some good top 4 options: Ekblad, Provorov, Pionk, etc.

In '24, the group is quite a bit older, but top 4 options: Tanev, Zadorov, Montour, Dumba (ish), etc.

To me it's more of a question of finding a systems/identity that's more fitting of this group.

The version of this group we all liked the best was Babcock era, as much as we hated him as a coach.

They played fast, skilled, possession hockey, until apparently they couldn't do that in the playoffs, and then we started trying to get tougher and slower, while playing some kind of mutant dump and chase system with predictable powerplays and a PK system that can't adjust.

We do have to remember that these guys get the best treatment for recovery.

I mean Sergechev broke his leg and just competed in an NHL playoff game, it’s wild.

I really don’t see any excuse for Marner here.
- Santo_44

Agreed, and the issue isn't his skating, it's his compete level. Losing every puck battle along the boards just can't happen, ankle sprain or not. Plays are dying on his stick. A guy like Marchand could be on death's door and I would still bet on him coming out of a 50/50 puck battle with the puck or making a play.

Ya me neither.
- underhill14

Noting that it depends on how you play the game. If you're a straight line skater like a guy like Sergachev and you're larger bodied and play more physical, then it's not quite the same things that you rely on.

The basic fact is that Marner is smaller. His frame just isn't built for contact with large men. That's fine - it's who he is - but he relies on his edgework and fine detail skating to avoid that contact and make him effective. If his ankle is still strengthening - or if it's hurting, even subconsciously - the body withholds certain movements.

I do see it as a reason and something to consider. It doesn't change the fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs either know how to use a player like Mitch Marner (think Patrick Kane) in the playoffs when things are tight or they don't. With a guy like Kane, Chicago put him out with big bodies who could create space for him - like Bickell, Toews, Sharp, Richards . . . but he was at his best, I think, when he had a guy like Bickell who was big and more north/south. They played Kane with Handzus for a while, but while he's huge, he's not overly physical - he didn't buy Kane the space he needed.

If the Leafs do not intend (or cannot afford) to get forwards who will create that room for Marner, then they will likely keep failing with him. It's a two-way street. I'm not impressed by Marner's play, but I'm also not surprised when you consider that he doesn't look like he's moving the way he needs to and the additional physicality he's dealing with and really shouldn't have to if the team were constructed properly.

I wonder if any team will force a game 7 that is down 3-1 right now. Do the leafs have the best chance?

I wonder if any team will force a game 7 that is down 3-1 right now. Do the leafs have the best chance?
- bryant

Statistically, I'd say yes, but that isn't saying much.

On goaltending, wouldn't know if Boston's goalies are the best in the league or not. The Leafs have had very few if any HD chances. Bruins play a solid D game...unfortunately.

I wouldn't trade for or sign one of Boston's goalies either. Not sure their stats would hold up on another team.

Wasn't Ullmark whore'd around for a few years after Buffalo as a b/u tender?
- underhill14

As a whole this team does not contend with pressure. Auston Matthews' average shooting distance in the regular season was 24.95 feet away from the net. Against Boston through 4 games it's 32.8 feet. He's shooting, on average, 8 feet further back. If you have one of the most lethal wrist shots in the game, a goalie still stops it if they have enough time. He has to get in and be more dangerous. On his own he can make Domi and Bertuzzi the stars of that line because the D are going to move to cover him. At some point the Bruins would have to make a choice - cover Matthews in the danger areas or take a chance and attack Domi with the puck. Instead he floats back 5-10 feet outside of that danger area and in the pocket gets the puck and shoots from where it can be saved more easily. He is also a problem, even if, excusing last game based on illness, he's winning most of his battles and moving the puck up ice really well.

I wonder if any team will force a game 7 that is down 3-1 right now. Do the leafs have the best chance?
- bryant

Depends if Matthews plays or not.

And Woll needs to start.

Noting that it depends on how you play the game. If you're a straight line skater like a guy like Sergachev and you're larger bodied and play more physical, then it's not quite the same things that you rely on.

The basic fact is that Marner is smaller. His frame just isn't built for contact with large men. That's fine - it's who he is - but he relies on his edgework and fine detail skating to avoid that contact and make him effective. If his ankle is still strengthening - or if it's hurting, even subconsciously - the body withholds certain movements.

I do see it as a reason and something to consider. It doesn't change the fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs either know how to use a player like Mitch Marner (think Patrick Kane) in the playoffs when things are tight or they don't. With a guy like Kane, Chicago put him out with big bodies who could create space for him - like Bickell, Toews, Sharp, Richards . . . but he was at his best, I think, when he had a guy like Bickell who was big and more north/south. They played Kane with Handzus for a while, but while he's huge, he's not overly physical - he didn't buy Kane the space he needed.

If the Leafs do not intend (or cannot afford) to get forwards who will create that room for Marner, then they will likely keep failing with him. It's a two-way street. I'm not impressed by Marner's play, but I'm also not surprised when you consider that he doesn't look like he's moving the way he needs to and the additional physicality he's dealing with and really shouldn't have to if the team were constructed properly.
- Monkeypunk

Patrick Kane was a deadly shooter in his prime, deadly accurate wrister. Marner doesn't have that, nobody respects Marner's shot; Marner needs a shooter on his line, Kane doesn't (didn't).

Patrick Kane was a deadly shooter, deadly accurate wrister. Marner doesn't have that, nobody respects Marner's shot; Marner needs a shooter on his line, Kane doesn't (didn't).
- gravyface

I’m tired of the over analyzing on both ends.

He simply needs to be better.

He had a fantastic game 4 facing elimination last year then went invisible again.

He is so capable of being amazing but he fails far too much.

He just has to play better, that’s it.