Joined: Jan. 2018
Posts: 235
Likes: 50
Yes I am a Redwings fan, but I watched almost every Leaf game this year. I listen to TSN 1050's Overdrive podcast and it's Leafs focused, so I like to be updated on what they talk about.
Marner had almost no leash with Babcock early in the season. One or two bad games, Marner was sent down to the fourth line for 4-5 games. Babcock has done that to Nylander too, but Nylander plays with two young and fast players. Also, notice how Nylander is fairly unimpactful when Matthews is out of the line-up. Marner is like Patrick Kane, he can make most lines dangerous with him just being on the ice. Nylander needs to play with another elite player because he can't generate too much on his own.
Marner - up until getting moved to a line with Kadri and Marleau - was playing with two slow players who are not high end offensive talents. Yes - JVR scored 35 goals this year, but he doesn't score off the rush or make defenseman back up when he enters the zone. He scores on the powerplay from in tight and/or around the net. If Babcock locks both of Nylander and Marner in on their top 2 lines for the entire season, and doesn't penalize them or push them down the line-up, I guarantee you Marner will out perform Nylander.
Two years in a row, Marner has out performed Nylander in points per game in the regular season and in the playoffs. The only reasons the Bruins Leafs series went 7 games was due to Marner and Andersen. Everyone else on the Leafs were awful.
I'll admit - one star rating was a tad harsh. It should have been a 2-3 star.