The Toronto Maple Leafs have no choice but to make it to the playoffs this season. We say that every year, but in 2022, it’s even more true. Several guys are in their last season under contract in the Queen City and some, like Auston Matthews and William Nylander, only have one season left following this one.
The window of opportunity is slowly closing and it’s not as if the next generation is dominant. Besides, NHL Discussion on Instagram ranks the Toronto prospect bank 17th in the NHL.
Tony Marinaro was just wondering, yesterday, if Toronto’s reconstruction was a failure.
In short, all this to tell you that Sheldon Keefe will try new things this season. He is just thinking regarding the possibility of transferring Mitchell Marner In the center to the blue line.
Pardon?
Maple Leafs experimenting with Mitch Marner as a defencemen. Would be situational but interesting nonetheless. Like having an offensive-minded right shot at the point.
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) September 29, 2022
I understand that Marner is responsible defensively, but…
Would putting him on the defense really be a good idea? The guy is talented, but would he really make a better job than another defender who has trained in this position all his life?
Note that in training today, the right-hander had repetitions to the right of the team’s best defender, Morgan Rielly.
Sheldon Keefe says they are looking at using Mitchell Marner on defence at times during the regular season.
Have been experimenting throughout camp. Took some reps with Morgan Rielly today.#LeafsForever
— Dave McCarthy (@DaveAMcCarthy) September 29, 2022
Moreover, Morgan Rielly, who is in Toronto for the next seven seasons, is not once morest the idea of playing on the right, if it is to help the club.
Morgan Rielly has volunteered to practise on the right side. Sees a deficiency there and wants the Leafs to have options.
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) September 29, 2022
As Luke Fox points out in the tweet above, Marner wouldn’t always play defense, but in big game situations (the Leafs being down a goal late in the third period, for example), Keefe might use it at the blue line.
Also note that the Leafs have been using Marner as a second power play defenseman for quite some time. The roster’s head coach stresses that it’s good to have options at your fingertips.
With the injury to John Tavares to start the season, the small forward will most likely not play as a defender. It would be the attack that would pull it off at this point.
I like the fact that Keefe tries combinations. He knows very well that his job may be at stake this season. The Leafs (still) have everything to lose and if they don’t start winning now, major changes might take place next off-season.
Is this an idea that will materialize or are they just lip service? Certainly, a pointer of almost 100 points and a scorer of 35 goals DO NOT GO to the defense. But hey, I’m sure the Leafs know what they’re doing… or not.
Next position for him: goalkeeper?
Next up: Mitch marner in goal pic.twitter.com/eo6tNOgGAl
— totoro maple leafs (@wealthyscratch) September 29, 2022
A lot of
– For those who missed yesterday’s game.
What bothered me regarding yesterday’s game once morest the Leafs? ????@TonyMarinaro recaps the Habs preseason loss to the Maple Leafs.
Full pod???????? https://t.co/sOsr5RPdYb#Habs #GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast pic.twitter.com/4CgL5YEi8Z
— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) September 29, 2022
– Photo opportunity for the Canadian.
OK, since you insist.
It’s Cole!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/JJMFOpFHLw
— Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) September 29, 2022
– He wants to play more.
Less used, Joaquin Torres seeks answershttps://t.co/yAbYRudwmf
— RDS (@RDSca) September 29, 2022
– He has a date with the Joker.
A very big size awaits Vasek Pospisil: https://t.co/yRXLIUuHcM
— TVA Sports (@TVASports) September 29, 2022
– His last fight?
Marie-Eve Dicaire feels ready to unify the titles https://t.co/eHtNX2mjwQ
— Jean-Francois Chabot (@jfchabotsrc) September 29, 2022