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Mitch Marner shares his thoughts on Reaves, Bertuzzi and Domi signings

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Ben Hodgson
July 14, 2023 (8:34)

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It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why Mitch Marner would be happy to see the likes of Max Domi, Tyler Bertuzzi and Ryan Reaves join the Leafs' ranks. The gifted winger brings an incredible amount of skill and creativity to the ice. Unfortunately, he tends to end up taking a significant amount of abuse for his efforts. The current state of NHL officiating allows defenders to get away with borderline felonies, especially in the playoffs. This allows unskilled neanderthals like Radko Gudas to beat the living crap out of players like Marner, Matthews and Nylander without recourse in the post season. The officiating won't change as long as Gary Bettman is running the NHL, but now, at the very least, the Leafs have added a few guys who can dish out some retribution.

Joining TSN 1050's OverDrive, Marner was eager to express his excitement at the trio of rather feisty forwards that have defined Brad Treliving's first summer as Leafs GM.

"It's great, very exciting all three players you know come with a bit of grittyness to them you know guys that like to get in people's faces and annoy people so very good at putting the puck in the net too and being around the net so it's very exciting. I'm excited to see how I was going to work out with our roster and the great thing is i think especially those two guys (Domi and Bertuzzi) can fit in anywhere. Obviously Reavo you know what he's gonna bring to the team, intensity and physicality." -Mitch Marner

Marner also reveled that he has already reached out to all of the new Leafs, despite being in the middle of planning his upcoming wedding.

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"I've talked to all of them, just kind of welcoming them in and 'let me know if you have any questions about [living in Toronto]'. You know, what to expect and everything like that. But everyone's been really great. All the guys have been great. They're excited, looking forward to getting on the roster and looking forward to playing [in Toronto]." - Marner on reaching out to Reaves, Bertuzzi and Domi

Marner will obviously benefit from having one of Bertuzzi or Domi playing on his line and watching his back. Those two will, in turn, benefit from having a true heavyweight like Ryan Reaves available as backup should things get out of hand. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I think this is the best, most playoff ready the roster has looked in the Matthews era. I think its safe to say that Marner is as excited as the rest of us by what Brad Treliving has pulled off since free agenct opened up. Now, if he can just find a way to sign Matthews and Nylander to reasonable long-term deals, he will have already eclipsed anything that Dubas accomplished in his 5 years at the helm.

Previously on MapleLeafsDaily

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Former Leaf has contract terminated just weeks after signing with Arizona

Major changes coming to Hockey Night in Canada; Ron MacLean, others reportedly out

POLL
14 JUILLET \| 308 ANSWERS Mitch Marner shares his thoughts on Reaves, Bertuzzi and Domi signings Which LW is the best option to play on the opposite wing with Marner?
Bertuzzi	121	39.3 %
Domi	106	34.4 %
Knies	68	22.1 %
Jarnkrok	13	4.2 %
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