TORONTO – The next time the Toronto Maple Leafs commit a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty, you can bet Mitchell Marner will be the one skating directly to the box.
Whether Marner was involved in the bungled line change or not has nothing to do with it. Marner, who hasn’t been featured on the penalty kill since he graduated from junior, says he’s happy to take one for the team.
"To be honest, I’m just jumping over the boards before anyone else to go there. Usually I’m looking. I either get the tap or I’m going already," says Marner. "It’s a chance to get on the ice quickly, to get that first first shift back."
Despite the argument that serving bench minors is a task best reserved for less-impactful forwards — or, worse, a passive-aggressive way for a coach to toss a guy in the doghouse — the Leafs drop Marner in the box for what they believe can be a competitive advantage.
Heck, it’s worked in Washington, where Alex Ovechkin often serves the bench minors and presents a threat with the clock strikes 2:00. The one (rare) drawback is that if the opposition takes a penalty while on the power play, the Leafs could be deprived of one of their best four-on-four players.
"He’s smart, he can score, he comes out at the right time, and he’s flying," says head coach Mike Babcock. "But he can play down low in your zone, he can score, and it gets him on the ice first shift. He gets a little more ice time, too."
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Due to some early-season struggles, Marner spent a chunk of his sophomore season down in the Leafs’ bottom six, and he still ranks only seventh among all Toronto forward in average time on ice (15:48).
Since getting promoted to Nazem Kadri and Patrick Marleau’s second line, however, Marner has started gaining on trusted checker Leo Komarov in that department. Marner has exploded for 16 points in 14 games since the line-juggling fell in his favour.
"He’s been spectacular. He’s done a real good job, whether it’s playing with Patty or playing with Naz or just feeling good about himself," Babcock says.
"Obviously he didn’t have the kind of start he wanted. He’s a good player and plays with good energy. He has good energy as a person—that’s contagious as well."
So why was Marner, now back on a 60-point pace, slow to produce this season?
"I have lots of theories on it," Babcock says, "but I’m not going to share any with you. How’s that?"
How’s this? Marner actually sees the benefits of spending two minutes locked up for a crime he didn’t commit.
"It’s kinda nice in there. You get to know the [off-ice official] guys. It’s kinda quiet and relaxing. It’s a thing I’ve always done when I’m not on PK—got in the box and serve those. I have no problem doing it," Marner says.
"Dave [the penalty timekeeper], I know him very well. I talk with him for a couple seconds, just joking around, keeping it light in there. Staying mellow."
