5 days Ago By [email protected] (Kevin McGran)
Playing without a contract extension In fact, it might be having the opposite effect on the winger, spurring him on. Or maybe, just maybe, Marner is simply being Marner, putting together another stellar season whether is healthy or not. Marner scored career goal No.
200 on Saturday night in spectacular fashion: at Scotiabank Arena. He stopped a rush by Connor McDavid, took the puck the other way on a two-on-one with John Tavares, and picked the corner on goalie Stuart Skinner. MITCH MARNER MAGIC ENDS IT FOR THE LEAFS!! 🪄 Marner hits the 200 goal milestone on the OT winner.
“Just another day for Mitch Marner,” said Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz. “He’s a great two-way player and someone that we appreciate. You watch his game, the way he goes up and down the ice and gives us his all.
I’m happy he got rewarded with that goal.” who has missed six games with an upper-body injury. He scored four goals plus six assists in those games, and leads the team in scoring with 24 points.
This in a year where he’s eligible for a contract extension, perhaps around $12 million (U.S.) a season.
That would make him the second-highest paid Leaf behind Matthews (fifth in the NHL at $13.25 million based on average annual value). Marner’s six-year, $65.
41-million contract expires in the summer, when he can become an unrestricted free agent. when he simply expressed his love for being a Leaf. “I don’t worry about that stuff because it’s out of my control,” head coach Craig Berube said of Marner’s contract situation.
“He’s obviously not worrying about it. He’s just playing hockey and he’s enjoying it. Every day, this guy has tons of energy and life at the rink .
.. He’s in a real good spot right now.
” Ryan Reaves was ejected for a high hit on Darnell Nurse long before Mitch Marner’s milestone winner for the Leafs in overtime. Ryan Reaves was ejected for a high hit on Darnell Nurse long before Mitch Marner’s milestone winner for the Leafs in overtime. Marner, more than any other Leaf, bore the brunt of criticism when they bowed out of the playoffs against the Boston Bruins in seven games in the spring.
But he succeeded in his biggest moment of the regular season so far, and coming out on top. “It’s probably the hardest challenge in the entire NHL right now,” Marner said of playing McDavid. “You’ve got to stay above him.
You’ve got to stay patient all game, because if you cheat, usually it’s going to end up in the back of your net.” Marner was plus-three Saturday (McDavid wore a minus-three) and for his ninth multi-point game of the season. “He was excellent,” Berube said.
“I mean, he did so much good in all facets of the game: penalty kill, power play, five-on-five. You know, he did a great job of breaking up the two-on-one on that play (in overtime) and going the other way and score. He wanted to get his 200th tonight and he got it.
” Despite his statistical prowess, McDavid still has more to achieve to stake a claim properly as the game’s greatest. Despite his statistical prowess, McDavid still has more to achieve to stake a claim properly as the game’s greatest. Marner is the 16th Leaf to hit that target, which Matthews (373) and (229) had already eclipsed.
With Marner, there’s an endless debate about whether he should shoot more. While he has a good shot, his linemates often have better ones. “We always talk about shooting more pucks, that guys can shoot more,” Berube said.
“But he’s a heck of a playmaker ...
so I understand why he doesn’t shoot more at times. But when he has the opportunities in good spots, he should shoot, for sure.” Marner tried to explain his suddenly hot hands.
“I guess I’m getting it off the stick quickly, finding my spots and picking them,” said Marner. “Gotta keep doing it. Had some great passes for some teammates; some others just have been puck luck.
Try to keep doing it, keep working and get better every game.” The Leafs return to action Wednesday, when the Vegas Golden Knights come to town..
