Leafs’ Marner is back in limelight following slow start
TORONTO — Mitch Marner played a tree once in a gradeschool play.
“It was The Jungle Book,” said Marner. “I was standing there in a tree uniform, doing nothing.”
Fast forward to 2018 and now Marner — the Maple Leafs leading scorer — has become a pitchman for an insurance company.
“I’m getting a lot of good compliments on it, people saying I did not too bad of a job,” said Marner prior to the Maple Leafs taking on the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night. “It’s kind of a fun thing to do, just to see if you can do it.
“I think they’re pretty funny to watch.”
While the ads reflect Marner’s personality — he is one of the more fun-loving players — let’s say Marner is far better at hockey.
In fact, he has joined some elite company.
In terms of players 20 or under who have scored at least 120 points in their first two seasons, Marner sits seventh in the salary cap era. The names ahead of him: Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Patrick Kane, Steven Stamkos and Patrick Laine. Behind him: Jonathan Toews, Matt Duchene, Auston Matthews and John Tavares, according to hockey-reference.com.
Marner carried a nine-game points streak into Wednesday’s game. “He’s a good kid, he works hard, he’s got great enthusiasm,” said coach Mike Babcock. “Getting to be around (Patrick Marleau and Ron Hainsey) you get to learn how to be a good pro. The sooner you get it, the more consistent you are, the better start to the season you have, and you become a better player.
“Obviously he’s an elite player, can drive a line. The better he is, the better we’re going to be. His growth and development are real important for us.”
Marner and Matthews have achieved their lofty offensive numbers despite playing fewer minutes than the other nine players on the list.
Those numbers are sure to come up at contract time. Both Marner and Matthews have one more year left on their entrylevel deals, but are eligible for
extensions starting July 1. The other key young forward — William Nylander — is a restricted free agent July 1.
It hasn’t been the easiest of seasons for Marner. Babcock hinted at it in his comments, that his start wasn’t great. He was demoted to the fourth line, playing with good friend Matt Martin, who makes a cameo in the series of ads filmed about a month ago.
“It was hard jumping lines constantly, playing with different people,” said Marner. “It was hard to get a rhythm going. It hurts your confidence a little.
But I relaxed. Talked to family.
They calmed me down, helped me realize it didn’t matter who I played with, just go out there and have fun.
“That’s what I got back to.”
His promotion to the right
wing with Nazem Kadri and Patrick Marleau in January seems to have brought out the most in his game.
“It means you’re playing against the best players every night, so you’ve got to be ready to play that matchup role,” said Marner. “It’s fun doing that, fun to play against the best every night. It makes you bring your best.”
And he seemed to bring his best to those ads, even if he takes a ribbing from his teammates.
“Hey, if you need insurance, I know people ...” Matthews said with a smile just a few stalls away.
“He was pretty good. I think Matty (Martin) had a cameo there? That day (that Marner shot the commercial), we were supposed to meet at Patty’s house (Marleau), and he (Marner) was late ... So, man, retakes. But he did good with it, it was great to see.”