Mitch Marner feels confident the Toronto Maple Leafs made the right choices this summer when they went a different direction in free agency.
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Earlier today, Mitch Marner joined Tim and Sid to talk about the upcoming 2021 NHL season. He’s obviously looking forward to it and is excited to begin. What stirs his excitement the most are the offseason additions the Maple Leafs have made to their team. Specifically, like so many other Maple Leafs fans, he’s especially excited he’ll be skating with NHL veteran Joe Thornton.
Marner Doesn’t Seem to Know More than the Fans
One interesting point in the video is that, when Marner was asked if he was hopeful the season would get started, his answer seemed to put him in the same boat as the rest of us. He’d seen all the news and had heard everything, and he was hoping that “we can get something going here.” I would have thought the players would have more up-to-date news.
Marner noted that he was excited about his new teammates. Marner believed these players included “some very key pieces that could help us a lot.”
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Marner’s Thoughts about Joe Thornton
Marner, with Auston Matthews, was known to have built a great relationship with Patrick Marleau when he was in Toronto. When he was asked if he had called “uncle Patty Marleau” to ask for “the lowdown on Joe Thornton,” Marner noted that he hadn’t reached out to Marleau since Thornton was signed. However, Marleau had spoken with him and Matthews lots about the great former San Jose Sharks’ center who’s now a Maple Leafs’ player.
Marleau relayed to Marner that Thornton was “super light” and is someone who likes to keep everything “light” and have a great time. But Marleau also told the Marner and Matthews that Thornton was a competitive player who plays hard and wants to win.
Marleau’s stories about his former teammate must have been positive because Marner summed up Thornton by saying “he seems like just an unbelievable dude.” When Marner heard Thornton had signed, he admitted that he sent him a text telling him how excited the team was to have him.
Marner Believes Bogosian and Brodie Help the Team’s Defense
Marner specifically noted the great a playoff series Zach Bogosian had with the Tampa Bay Lightning and believed Bogosian’s signing helps the defense because he brings some meanness.
Marner had played Brodie a couple of times each season when he was with Calgary and noted that Brodie and Mark Giordano were a great pair, with Brodie being the “safety back” who could make plays and was smart with the puck. That point suggested to me that Marner believes Brodie will serve the same function with current defenseman Morgan Rielly.
Marner Thinks Simmonds is a Beast
Marner had come to know Simmonds when they played together at the World’s. He enjoyed talking to Simmonds when the newcomer signed and relayed how excited he was to be with the team. Marner believes Simmonds “wants to prove to everyone that he’s still the player he was.”
Marner’s been with Simmonds on the ice recently and he looks “like a beast out there.” Marner added that, when Simmonds was working down low and has the puck, it’s hard to get it off him. He’s a “big, big man” who can control the puck around the net and hardly misses from in close. Even before the training camp started, Simmonds has been impressive to watch.
The Bottom Line? Hunger and Leadership
As most NHL fans know, although Thornton has a strong NHL resume, he’s never won a Stanley Cup ring. Simmonds has had poor seasons in his last few destinations. Thornton wants to win the Cup and Simmonds wants to re-establish himself as a viable force in the NHL.
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In short, Marner was excited to have the new guys here and liked their hunger to win. Interestingly, Marner noted that the team also needed those guys to “keep us in line and keep us going every single day.” Obviously, Marner believes the newcomers bring some leadership as well.
