Edited Aug. 3, 2020 at 6:38 p.m.
I feel it is a good time to make this post. After seeing yesterday’s game, it’s about time to get the message across.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been on Capfriendly making Armchair trades in which I looked at dealing Marner to other teams. I would like to explain why I have been so adamant in moving him: I think he is the one that is holding the team back.
I honestly do not believe that Marner's teammates & coaches like him in general. They may not even respect him. Before the contract negotiation, he was being praised throughout the organization but now that is all gone. By holding out & demanding the highest salary possible, he has shown that he is selfish, cancerous and not in it for the team.
If Toronto is to underwhelm in the playoffs again, I think the player in question should be Marner. I don't know how many performances I saw from him this season in which the effort just wasn't there. He played with no intensity & seemed uninspired. He always lost the puck carelessly, he never went to the dirty areas to retrieve pucks and too many times he was just floating around. There's no denying he's got immense talent, but when the team is looking for a spark, they turn to their top players to set an example. If this is what they see, no wonder they are getting poor results. I think a lot of the Leafs' failures this season falls on the shoulder of Mitch Marner.
Marner is my favourite player & I want to see him succeed, but I’ve had enough of this nonsense. I’m tired of defending him & hearing his excuse for his poor performances. I feel the ship has already sunk for him. Honestly, he just doesn’t have the mentality or attitude to succeed in the NHL. A change of scenery may be the best option at this point.
I have been long contemplating this trade below:
Mitch Marner To Pittsburgh For Patric Hornqvist, Sam Lafferty, Chad Ruhwedel & Jack Johnson
I feel it can benefit both teams.
The Leafs add the defencemen to fill out their roster holes, but more importantly, they add leadership & heart which is what they desperately need right now. Hornqvist is a guy who’ll work his arse off every shift, he battles for pucks, takes hits & drives to the net. He brings the exact oopposite of what Marner offers. Lafferty plays much the same way, with more speed but is less proven.
The Penguins get a top line RW who can put up elite production plus is one of the most elusive players with the puck on his stick, however, is basically a reclamation project at this point. Their coaching staff is usually good with young players & they’ve dealt with players in a similar situation (ie Kessel).
Getting rid of Marner & his toxic presence feels like the first & most crucial step into restoring a winning mentality within the Leafs organization. While I understand his theoretical trade value may be higher, based on the current situation I can’t see teams willing to give up more than this.