How Mitch Marner quietly epitomizes ‘tough to play against’

Mitch Marner sometimes takes criticism from onlookers that he’s not ‘tough’ enough to play against. However, with an in-depth look at his impact through video, we can see how Marner quietly is a tough opponent to match up against.

How Mitch Marner quietly epitomizes ‘tough to play against’

“Don’t should on yourself” is one of my favourite expressions. 

As humans, we do this (spectacularly unhelpful) thing where we let expectations dictate our perception of ourselves and our circumstances. We lose our ability to accurately see, assess, or appreciate what is because we’re caught up in what we think should be.

We play this game while observing other people as well, and as hockey fans, we’ve done so quite a bit of late with Mitch Marner.

In the wake of a couple quieter games at the 4 Nations Face-Off, many familiar narratives about the Canadian winger in high-stakes affairs arose. The gist: 

• He should be contributing more offensively.

• He should be more engaged.

• He should be tougher to play against.

While these arguments have some merit, they’re derived in significant part from viewing Marner’s performance through the lens of what those elements ought to look like rather than what they do look like for him.

Using the tournament as a case study (it captures his range of skills and impact nicely), we’ll explore the more subtle layers that make Marner tough to play against in ways that aren’t necessarily recognized or valued as they challenge conventional thought (i.e. being physical, in-your-face aggressive, or freakishly fast).

Up first, how Marner makes life difficult for opponents without the puck.

OPPOSITION WITH POSSESSION: UNQUANTIFIABLE IMPACT

Darryl Belfry, a player development coach who’s worked with NHL stars and long been at the forefront of innovation within the sport, shared a thought several years ago that’s stuck with me:

Dictating the game, especially without possession, on as regular a basis as Marner does requires an elite understanding of how to minimize the puck carrier’s options while taking away time and space, ultimately forcing him to problem solve.

Let’s walk through four ways Marner quietly and commonly leaves opponents in predicaments, breaking down an example for each.

Throws off the rhythm, angle, or ease of a play

This clip of Marner defending a 2-on-1 in the lead-up to his overtime winner is a prime instance of how he applies pressure in a manner that forces the puck carrier’s hand and shifts the complexion of plays just enough to impact the outcome.

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In response to No. 16 making himself large, occupying the passing lane, and threatening an imminent poke check, the puck carrier has no choice but to either shoot from far out with the goalie already square or make a tricky move around him.

The bobbled pass reception that follows may seem like a lucky break, but Marner creates the conditions for this kind of error. In forcing the pull-back move with his pressure, he leaves the puck carrier with a sharper passing angle, making the delivery and reception a little more difficult. He also delays the pass, which leaves the receiver short on runway and a little more hurried as the puck arrives. 

While these little differences may seem insignificant as they’re nearly imperceptible in real time, they can add up to advantages with big consequences like passes that fail to cleanly connect and chances that fail to materialize.

As the saying goes, you create your own luck and Marner is adept at doing so.

(Also of note: the ensuing battle he wins by the net that prevents a follow-up opportunity against.)

Renders all options poor options

Here we see Marner’s aptitude for transforming what initially looks like an easy play with several possibilities for the puck carrier into a “just kidding” scenario, courtesy of one strategic route.

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While eliminating the option of a pass to the middle, Marner maximizes the risk of a pass up the wall and cuts off the puck carrier’s route. 

When a player is left without any good options and lacks the time to create anything else, a “thank you, I’ll take that” type of exchange usually ensues. In this case, the puck carrier determines that his best bet is to commit the cardinal sin of attempting a move just inside his blue line, resulting in a “big yikes” turnover.

Traps the puck carrier

Shadow routes – following the player with possession from behind as a secondary support to immediately trap him in the event of a cut-back or stop – are a staple of Marner’s game. This clip, which culminates in an assist for No. 16, illustrates how swiftly the tactic can kill offensive zone sequences for the opposition.

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Countering the existing pressure applied by a teammate with pressure from the opposite direction often causes the puck carrier to hit the panic button and either turn back into the original pressure or throw the puck that way. Bottom line: Marner’s tactic acts as a catalyst for possession changes.  

Steers the puck carrier into poor ice

Similar to controlling space in tandem with a teammate, this tactic – the easiest to discern of the bunch – sees Marner independently trap opponents by angling them to the boards with his stick and body.

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By pushing the puck carrier into a dead end, the 27-year-old limits what – if anything – his opponent can do, stripping the element of unpredictability and helping his teammates determine where to position themselves to successfully cut off the next play.

OPPOSITION WITH POSSESSION: QUANTIFIABLE IMPACT

When you consider how Marner impacts the game in all the ways that statistics don’t capture, the fact that he’s also one of the best in the league in several quantifiable defensive categories is impressive.

Here are his ranks among forwards this season, courtesy of Sportlogiq:

• 2nd in total defensive plays

• 1st in defensive plays in the offensive zone

• 3rd in stick checks

• 1st in blocked passes

• 3rd in loose puck recoveries

That second stat – defensive plays in the offensive zone – is the one I would argue speaks most to Marner being a pain to play against. The more plays he breaks up in this area of the ice, the more time and energy the opposition spends trying to exit its zone and keep the puck out of its net. 

Defending is much more tiring (and much less fun) than attacking, especially when a player as offensively talented as No. 16 is on the ice.

Here’s a compilation of Marner being in the right place at the right time to intercept passes, steal pucks, and regain possession thanks to his anticipation.

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MARNER WITH POSSESSION OF THE PUCK

There are plenty of ways Marner makes life a nightmare for opponents when he has the puck, but I want to zero in on one thing he excels at that doesn’t seem to receive enough attention: moving the puck from bad ice (the perimeter) to good ice (the middle) consistently.

The ability to make plays along the wall while under duress in all three zones is valuable, but the ability to improve the condition of the puck for your team in the process is a major competitive advantage. By leveraging his poise, awareness, vision, and creativity to repeatedly set teammates up to operate on the inside with time, space, and speed, Marner puts opponents on their heels.

Some video evidence:

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He minimizes time in his own end by facilitating controlled exits and maximizes time in the opposition’s end by initiating transition attacks and turning seemingly harmless possessions into dangerous chances that leave defenders scrambling.

Again, not pleasant if you’re on the opposing team.

PARTING THOUGHT

Marner will never be that guy who takes big runs at opponents or wins physical battles left and right or sends teams into a tizzy with his speed. He is, however, the guy who intimidates with his skill and disrupts plays in a variety of ways. 

Instead of punishing opponents with his body, he simply does so with his brain.

His game encourages us to challenge our perception of labels like “tough to play against” and serves as a reminder that quiet performances don’t necessarily equate to unimpactful ones. Value comes in many different forms, several of which are easy to miss.

Speaking of value, the pending unrestricted free agent brings a good deal of it. In the interest of adhering to the expression I offered at the start of this piece, I won’t should on the Leafs, but will say Marner’s skillset and versatility would be tough to replace.

Vanessa Kezwer worked as a scout for the USHL’s Chicago Steel for three seasons and was a video analyst for TMU’s women’s hockey team.