Ceci should not be anywhere near that left column...

When you are sold that low, anything is impressive

Marner and Tavares need Hyman. Hyman makes that line. Kapanen does not do what that line needs - dig pucks out of the corner. I think they should try Moore on the LW with Tavares and Marner. Moore is closer to a Hyman type player.

Put Kapanen back on RW with Kerfoot and Mikheyev. I think he fit in on that line a lot better.

I have not caught a Leafs game yet this year, so what's the deal with Marner? He has 6 points in 5 games which is really good, but points certainly aren't everything...

He has looked not up to par.

I don't think Marner has a 5 v 5 point yet this season. It's all been pp, 4 v 4 or 6 v5. Regardless, his points arent the issue.

What seems to be the issue, imo, is JT seems slow out of the gate. And what seems obvious to me, and what was debated at length over the summer, is that JT drives that line and Marner compliments it (and very well when you throw Hyman into the mix). Anyways, once JT hits his stride, and either Hyman or Moore sub in for Kap, then I think Marner starts to look better.

But I think what this is really about is misplaced expectations and us leaf fans dealing with the hangover effects of the Marner drama, his contract and how that has pinched the leafs cap structure. Simply put, Marner is being paid almost 11M a year. He's a great player, but he's not an $11M man who dominates a game. And after watching the Tampa/leafs game I don't think anyone can honestly say that Marner is more valuable, or a better player, than Point.

I think alot of us leaf fans are just seeing the situation for what it is I.e. Marner took more than his fair share from the cap pie. That's fine. But he might have a hard time earning his contract. It's always easier to under promise and over deliver. Marner did the opposite with his negotiations this summer. He'll have an uphill battle to win back the appreciation he had before all this contract nonsense went down.