How Maple Leafs' Divorce With Mitch Marner Has Worked Out For Both Parties (so Far)

How Maple Leafs’ divorce with Mitch Marner has worked out for both parties (to this point)

Aside from the apparent lacking the playoffs and threatening to offer the Boston Bruins their first-round decide, the ultimate 4 within the NHL at the moment consists of the rival Montreal Canadiensformer Leaf Frederik Andersen’s Carolina Hurricanes, former Leaf Nazem Kadri’s Colorado Avalanche, and former Leaf Mitch Marner’s Vegas Golden Knights (all people needs to be cheering for Kadri, by the way in which!)

The good cherry on high to this catastrophe of a season would have been the Bruins getting a top-10 decide and including one other high prospect to their system after already taking Fraser Minten. But, luck bounced the opposite manner on draft lottery nightand out of nowhere, the Leafs are primed to pick Marner’s substitute first general within the upcoming draft and primarily give themselves an project extension in doing so.

The Maple Leafs’ breakup with Marner was a mandatory one. As a lot because the hockey world is having a subject day with Marner at the moment main the NHL in playoff scoring, with seven targets and 18 factors in 12 video games, it is value an evergreen reminder that what we’re seeing from Marner proper now would by no means have occurred in Toronto. With the distinction in highlight between the 2 markets, the truth that Vegas received a Cup three years in the past and would not have the historic strain of the Maple Leafs, and the truth that he has to this point confronted two first-time playoff groups of their present varieties, it is no shock that Marner is flourishing in Vegas.

At the identical time, it might be naive to fake that Marner’s departure had completely zero affect on their fortunes this season. They could have solely been a wildcard workforce had he caught round, however they definitely would not have missed the playoffs to the diploma that they did. It’s exhausting to exchange a 90-plus level ahead with Selke-level defensive capabilities, playoff success be damned, and it turned apparent immediately that Nicolas Roy, Dakota Joshua, and Matias Maccelli weren’t sufficient to take action.

Had the Leafs not retained their first spherical decide this yr, and even when they did so at fifth general, this probably is not an article that is being written proper now. But including Gavin McKennaa premier game-breaking winger who showcased his skills at Penn State and for Canada on the World Juniors, to a workforce that visibly struggled and not using a star winger driving shotgun with Auston Matthews, is a recreation changer. Sure, McKenna is perhaps behind the remainder of the core age-wise, however he is bought the expertise to search out chemistry with gamers like Matthews shortly, particularly in the event that they hire a coach who prioritizes puck possession and creativity.

It additionally stops the Leafs from having to unfold their wealth evenly in free company and can permit them to focus closely on revamping the defensive corps with NHL-ready assist and maybe pivot again for a second-line heart with out having to simply accept Max Domi as one in all their top-line wingers in change for that. With two years remaining earlier than Matthews hits free company, the luck of drawing the primary general will prolong their aggressive window fairly than having to ask robust questions on accepting defeat on this period and spending the subsequent 5 years on the backside of the standings.

Oh, and whereas that is all taking place, Marner will get to placed on a present within the playoffs in a way more optimistic mild than the one he was seen in whereas he was a Leaf. He even will get to attain in a Game 7 and make it appear like his former workforce was solely in charge for his lack of success in Toronto.

Now that we have made all of these factors recognized, you possibly can see that there is a reputable argument to be made right here that the divorce, as of proper now, is benefiting both sides. Is the jury nonetheless out on Marner within the playoffs provided that both groups he is confronted to this point completed with seven fewer factors than the Ottawa Senators did final yr? Yes. Did the Leafs completely stumble into their part of thisand is it solely attainable that they screw issues up with the primary general decide and plummet into mediocrity underneath John Chayka’s watch? Absolutely. But the place we stand proper now, on the morning of the Western Conference Final with the Maple Leafs a month away from including a younger franchise piece, the grass is trying inexperienced as ever for both parties.

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