Surging Marner A Key Reason Maple Leafs Are Thriving

The Toronto Maple Leafs currently are on a season-high six-game winning streak, and there are plenty of reasons for their recent success: backup goalie Petr Mrazek has been sturdy and dependable –including in Toronto’s 4-3 overtime win Monday against Mrazek’s former team, the high-octane Carolina Hurricanes – and the Buds’ defense has bent, but not broken, so that the Leafs’ powerful offense could be the difference-maker in the win and loss columns. Toronto has had three different five-game win streaks prior to their current win streak, but they’re now winning in different ways, including one shootout win and one overtime victory, and throughout those six games, an offense that has generated 31 goals-for.

But arguably the best news for Toronto fans has been the performance of winger Mitch Marner, who has faced as much, if not more scrutiny and pressure than any of his teammates. That’s partly because of Marner’s average annual salary of $10.9 million, but it’s also because of the fact that, when Marner is thriving, the Leafs are usually winning. For instance, it’s not a coincidence Toronto’s current win streak is happening at the same time as Marner’s eight-game goal streak. The 24-year-old has 10 goals and 19 points in his past eight games, and his points-per-game average of 1.18 is second only on the Leafs to fellow star and linemate Auston Matthews (1.33).

Marner’s confidence clearly is peaking, and that takes so much pressure off teammates such as second-liners John Tavares and William Nylander, to say nothing of the burden Matthews carries as Toronto’s primary offensive threat. But more importantly, Marner’s play has led directly to wins, including in Monday’s win over Carolina, in which he scored the game-tying goal late in the third period, then added the overtime winner. Defenders have had little answer for Marner’s creativity, and he is a strong player at both ends of the rink.

The Leafs took a blow late in regulation Monday, when Matthews suffered a head injury. His immediate status is not yet clear, but head coach Sheldon Keefe sounded like it would not be a long-term concern. But even if it was, Toronto has more than enough depth up front to guard against a serious drop-off in offense. Marner’s surge is coming at a perfect time in many respects, and he’s believing in his shot again, and isn’t just focused on being a playmaker.

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Of course, like the rest of his teammates, Marner’s ultimate metric this season will be what he and the other Leafs do come playoff time. His struggles in the post-season have been well-chronicled, but Marner still has the confidence of Keefe, GM Kyle Dubas, and team president Brendan Shanahan. If there ever was any consideration to trade Marner away, it has evaporated completely. His particular skill set is one few NHLers possess, and his lack of size isn’t a defensive issue. That may change in the playoffs, but for now, all he can do is try to start the post-season with the same type of confidence he has at the moment.

To be sure, the Leafs are not going to succeed if they don’t get offense from up and down the lineup, as well as from their defensemen. But the old saying about teams needing their best players to be their best players is a cliche because it’s true. Matthews has powered the offense when Marner missed nine games with a shoulder injury, and now, Marner is engineering all kinds of scoring chances, and successes, all on his own.

He’s not a perfect player – really, who is? – but Marner can be, and is being, a needle-mover. Nobody is talking about his salary anymore. They’re too busy being wowed by his ingenuity and resourcefulness. The longer that happens, the more likely the Maple Leafs will get past the first round of the playoffs and go far deeper than any Toronto team in recent memory. And if that creativity dries up, it will not be a positive harbinger for the Leafs’ Stanley Cup hopes.