Lucas Neilson: Maple Leafs Mitchell Marner: The Markham Machine Memorial Cup & Calder Cup + Roster Spots

great write up...

but you missed addressing the "most significant question of the day"...

how much better is Perron than Marner?

LOVE Marner.

marner is a monster

i sincerely hope that he takes the summer to focus on building strength... not necessarily size... he isnt a big man... but if he can get strong enough to endure the physicality of the NHL I think he could handle it.... the talent is there... my concern is if he can endure having NHL d-men paste him into the boards.

marner is a monster

i sincerely hope that he takes the summer to focus on building strength... not necessarily size... he isnt a big man... but if he can get strong enough to endure the physicality of the NHL I think he could handle it.... the talent is there... my concern is if he can endure having NHL d-men paste him into the boards.
- Dozzer

hey buddy, yeah I agree he needs to work on pure strength, weight is something he can work on later if need be.

babcock will shelter him, quite possibly third line/second line mix with some powerplay time.

mise well get him in the mix, stupid AHL rule on age.

I don't disagree that Marner could use a bit of beef.

But when I watch him play, he does not often seem to even attempt to squeeze by defenders on the boards. That's a power forward's game and Marner is more of a shifty playmaker.

I think he knows his size and plays his game to perfectly suit it. Sure, at the NHL level, he is bound to be caught the odd time, but I think that's why he's always got that "pass first" mentality. He gets it off his stick before the defender even gets to him, and then avoids the hit.

He will definitely still need to strengthen up in order to not break the odd time he does get hit, but I also think Babcock will put him against weaker defensive opposition in order to mitigate those instances


BTW, great blog Lucas. Killin' it lately

hey buddy, yeah I agree he needs to work on pure strength, weight is something he can work on later if need be.

babcock will shelter him, quite possibly third line/second line mix with some powerplay time.

mise well get him in the mix, stupid AHL rule on age.
- Lucas.Neilson

that transfer agreement needs to be altered... one year of junior post draft should be enough

however that being said is the AHL is a very physical league as well... but it would be far easier to shelter marner from the media there.

i trust babcock tho.... he will use him in a way where he can learn and succeed at the same time... babs and management will also likely be very much on top of marner's exposure to the media... ensuring it doesnt become too much or a distraction

Perron? David?

I don't disagree that Marner could use a bit of beef.

But when I watch him play, he does not often seem to even attempt to squeeze by defenders on the boards. That's a power forward's game and Marner is more of a shifty playmaker.

I think he knows his size and plays his game to perfectly suit it. Sure, at the NHL level, he is bound to be caught the odd time, but I think that's why he's always got that "pass first" mentality. He gets it off his stick before the defender even gets to him, and then avoids the hit.

He will definitely still need to strengthen up in order to not break the odd time he does get hit, but I also think Babcock will put him against weaker defensive opposition in order to mitigate those instances


BTW, great blog Lucas. Killin' it lately
- WingmanWillie

Thanks Willy, a true gentleman, just not always gentle

This blog is very Garth/Tanner like Mr Neilson.

that transfer agreement needs to be altered... one year of junior post draft should be enough

however that being said is the AHL is a very physical league as well... but it would be far easier to shelter marner from the media there.

i trust babcock tho.... he will use him in a way where he can learn and succeed at the same time... babs and management will also likely be very much on top of marner's exposure to the media... ensuring it doesnt become too much or a distraction
- Dozzer

the transfer agreement is outdated.

time to get with the times...

I too trust Babcock and his crew, he knows how the entire circuit works. He knows Marner is a big part of his future and he will take care of him like he's one of his own.

This blog is very Garth/Tanner like Mr Neilson.
- Symba007

I can't help when Gretzky like numbers are being put up

I can't help when Gretzky like numbers are being put up
- Lucas.Neilson

Can I call your Mrs Garth?

This blog is very Garth/Tanner like Mr Neilson.
- Symba007

this troll-esque post is very symba lik.........

oh...nevermind.

this troll-esque post is very symba lik.........

oh...nevermind.
- Dozzer

Please ban him

He smells like trout

Great blog Lucas.

Just need to point out that Marner probably won't affect the depth up the middle. He's been playing on the wing in London for quite some time now. Dvorak centers the line he's on with Tkachuk. A shift to the wing wouldn't have happened without Dale Hunters consent, and I'm sure he would've talked to Mark about it as well at some point. He's basically a winger for the time being.

A recent Sportsnet article (http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-turn-maple-leafs-around/) mentioned that he can back squat 375 at multiple reps. I think he's already stronger than he looks.

the transfer agreement is outdated.

time to get with the times...

I too trust Babcock and his crew, he knows how the entire circuit works. He knows Marner is a big part of his future and he will take care of him like he's one of his own.
- Lucas.Neilson

i have no idea how its even legal

you are taking adult males...18 and 19 years old... old enough to go to war... and telling them "sorry, you cant work in your chosen field, you need to play for free."

if a player is 18... and good enough for the AHL and maybe not quite there for the NHL he should be allowed to go and work for pay.

great write up...

but you missed addressing the "most significant question of the day"...

how much better is Perron than Marner?
- BorjeFan4Ever

Much, MUCH better. The stats don't lie.

Perron = Handjob while watching the game

Marner = Slow " let's take time to explore each other" type of poop

Great blog Lucas.

Just need to point out that Marner probably won't affect the depth up the middle. He's been playing on the wing in London for quite some time now. Dvorak centers the line he's on with Tkachuk. A shift to the wing wouldn't have happened without Dale Hunters consent, and I'm sure he would've talked to Mark about it as well at some point. He's basically a winger for the time being.

A recent Sportsnet article (http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-turn-maple-leafs-around/) mentioned that he can back squat 375 at multiple reps. I think he's already stronger than he looks.
- bobinson

I dream of Marner setting up Stamkos while JVR parks his ass in front of the goalie. It's actually crazy for me to think that this could be a reality next season

Man, Hbuzz really got (frank)y there for me.

Note to self: don't mistype on Hbuzz... ever

Please ban him

He smells like trout
- twiztedmike

brown or rainbow?

Great blog Lucas.

Just need to point out that Marner probably won't affect the depth up the middle. He's been playing on the wing in London for quite some time now. Dvorak centers the line he's on with Tkachuk. A shift to the wing wouldn't have happened without Dale Hunters consent, and I'm sure he would've talked to Mark about it as well at some point. He's basically a winger for the time being.

A recent Sportsnet article (http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-turn-maple-leafs-around/) mentioned that he can back squat 375 at multiple reps. I think he's already stronger than he looks.
- bobinson

Leafs will be happy that Marner has worked on being a winger, as you noted they are looking solid down the middle, for once.

he is strong for sure - but you can never be too strong for the NHL and their 6 ft 6 beasts like big Buf.

brown or rainbow?
- Lucas.Neilson

He's poo-brown rainbow

I don't disagree that Marner could use a bit of beef.

But when I watch him play, he does not often seem to even attempt to squeeze by defenders on the boards. That's a power forward's game and Marner is more of a shifty playmaker.

I think he knows his size and plays his game to perfectly suit it. Sure, at the NHL level, he is bound to be caught the odd time, but I think that's why he's always got that "pass first" mentality. He gets it off his stick before the defender even gets to him, and then avoids the hit.

He will definitely still need to strengthen up in order to not break the odd time he does get hit, but I also think Babcock will put him against weaker defensive opposition in order to mitigate those instances


BTW, great blog Lucas. Killin' it lately
- WingmanWillie

someone asked me a few months back who a few of the players remind me of...

and in a very good way I see a lot of Denis Savard in Marner, very shifty, very smart and clearly a pass first guy.

and no doubt he would benefit from a few extra pounds for stability reasons

I would buy front row tickets to someone asking Craig Button to explain his "Marner doesn't get it done when it counts like Tkachuk does" criticism from a few weeks ago.