Jon Cooper's Heartfelt Speech on Mitch Marner Ignites Massive Excitement Among Leafs Fans
Mitch Marner has been given a major boost by Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper after a massive winning goal at the Four Nations.
Jon Cooper gave massive credit to Mitch Marner after his overtime goal for Canada in a 4-3 win against Sweden with Cooper saying Marner is at an elite level.
Marner, who before overtime had been a bit quiet throughout the match in the opening match of the Four Nations Faceoff against the Swedes, quickly silenced any concerns with a massive game-winning goal in overtime. With rival city Montreal cheering for the Leafs star.
It was a major confidence boost for Marner, and it was a moment that Jon Cooper, who's used to going against the Leafs as coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, highlighted as what makes Marner so talented as a hockey player .
Copper spoke after the game on what makes Marner so effective on the ice.
Jon Cooper Credits Play Of Mitch Marner
When you're that size you have to have something. You have to be unique at something. You have to be better than everybody else at something.
And if you really watch that game, the plays he (Marner) made in tight, the plays he made in traffic, and he's not the fastest kid on the ice. Doesn't have the hardest shot on the ice.
Doesn't do a whole bunch of things that a lot of guys out there on both teams do better than him. But it's really hard to sit here and say, 'Well was there a better player?'»
You know, he puts himself at that elite level the way he thinks the game, the way he processes the game at such a high level and at such a high rate of speed, and that's why he's the player he is. - Jon Cooper
And if you really watch that game, the plays he (Marner) made in tight, the plays he made in traffic, and he's not the fastest kid on the ice. Doesn't have the hardest shot on the ice.
Doesn't do a whole bunch of things that a lot of guys out there on both teams do better than him. But it's really hard to sit here and say, 'Well was there a better player?'»
You know, he puts himself at that elite level the way he thinks the game, the way he processes the game at such a high level and at such a high rate of speed, and that's why he's the player he is. - Jon Cooper
While Cooper doesn't view Marner as a player with a truly elite toolkit, he sees value in a high hockey IQ and awareness that helps him play at such an elite level.
Marner has 16 goals, 55 assists, & 71 points in 54 games this season in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, tied for fourth in points alongside Connor McDavid.
One of Marner's best goals in his career, it's one made all the more sweeted representing the national team, but one that Leafs fans watching is something that can translate in a big moment for Toronto one day as well.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 13 | 612 ANSWERS Jon Cooper's Heartfelt Speech on Mitch Marner Ignites Massive Excitement Among Leafs Fans Was Marner's Four Nations goal his greatest moment? | ||
| Yes | 465 | 76 % |
| No | 147 | 24 % |
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