It's time to stop holding a grudge against Mitch Marner
No Leafs hockey to discuss? Cool. Lets fire up the Mitch Marner discussion! I'm going to be honest here, this horse is beaten to death, and I almost feel guilty dragging the corpse to the surface once again.
With that said, I still have a bone or two to pick with Mitch. Strap in, because in this piece, I'm going to try and forgive Mitch Marner and forget his lackluster performance during the Leafs' round one series against the Habs last postseason.
Full disclosure, in 2016, I liked Marner more than I liked Auston Matthews. This happened around game 4 of their respective careers. And it largely carried until the contract holdout. I know.. how original, he's bringing up the contract dispute!
Look, it has to be mentioned. I don't like it either, but it's hard to look past the overinvolvement of his father in his contract negotiations, the rumours of offer sheets, the rumour that Mitch could go play in Zurich.. pick your poison.
Time has been a blur since March 2020. I largely think COVID-19 and Marner hate are linked for the remainder of this deal. If the cap goes up without COVID, then his obscene cap hit is greatly reduced. I can blame Mitch for a lot of issues.. the pandemic isn't one of them. However, the fact he hasn't scored a power play goal since January 2020.. that, I can blame on the man.
The problem with disliking Mitch Marner, is that he is really good at hockey and probably does deserve the money he gets. I think we all know what's happening to him in big games is more between the ears that anything else. It can be worked out. He isn't exactly on borrowed time here.
Mitch will be 25 when the leafs get over the hump and make the 2nd round this spring, or whenever the playoffs occur. That previous sentence, that's me manifesting a desirable outcome. I don't believe it yet, but I am working to get there. Maybe some of you already got there, and that's great! I hope to join you soon.. but I've waited my whole 37 years for a Habs/Leafs series, and the series I got was an epic disappointment.
The anger and the blame for that collapse should never be pushed aside. But as one of my favourite songs says: «And if you don't love me now. You will never love me again. I can still hear you saying you would never break the chain». Translation if I don't let it go now, I never will.
Marner has a golden opportunity this season to make a believer out of each and every one of his detractors. He has the opportunity to show up in the postseason and prove that he does deserve his paycheck.. prove that he doesn't always disappear in meaningful games. Most importantly, Marner has the opportunity to change the narrative that has surrounded him over the past few postseasons. I may not be entirely ready to forgive and forget, but I can stick around for that.
