Mitch Marner: no, just because he’s a winger doesn’t mean the Habs should forget him

But in my opinion, this argument isn’t really an argument at all, for one simple reason: Marner is one of the few wingers who can almost act as a center. He’s an excellent playmaker and very responsible defensively.

I’m not saying that Kent Hughes should go all-in on Marner, far from it: he probably needs to go to a market where there’s less pressure, and he can forget about that in Montreal. That said, the club needs offensive punch, and if it’s going to come from the wing, so be it.

As Jeff Gorton said in his end-of-season press briefing, the Habs’ solution doesn’t have to come from a center. It may also involve a winger who can take charge.

Because if the club absolutely wants a center, it won’t have an option of Marner’s caliber. Brian Wilde is right when he says that John Tavares is one of the Habs’ best options… and he’s nowhere near Marner’s caliber.

I’ll say it again: I don’t see Marner getting along with the Habs. That said, I don’t see him signing with the Habs because I see him preferring a lower-pressure environment and because I don’t see Kent Hughes offering him $13-14 million a year.

But no, the fact that he’s a winger shouldn’t enter into the equation… because it’s much more complex than that.

Overtime

– Do you agree?

– Auston Matthews has been injured all season. [ NHL.com]

– Montreal CF locker room echoes.

– Indeed.

– He becomes easier to trade.