Kirill Marchenko already facing harsh criticism from the Toronto media

Kirill Marchenko has been pretty solid so far for the Maple Leafs though TSN's Jeff O'Neill isn't impressed and is already criticizing his short Toronto tenure.

With six points already to start his Maple Leafs career, Kirill Marchenko has started to settle in nicely for Toronto. Traded for Matthew Knies in a blockbuster one day before the season opened up, he's signed for the long haul and is expected to be an offensive driver for years to come.

While his goal-scoring hasn't been as prominent as it has been in recent years, his playmaking and ability to drive the zone and create chances has been indispensable for the Maple Leafs thus far, and the goals will come in time - and for him winning means more than counting stats anyways.

Former Maple Leaf blasts Marchenko's 'sleepiness' over the past two games

But there are some who wish Marchenko would start putting the puck in the back of the net, and one of the loudest critics so far is a former player with 237 career goals: Jeff O'Neill.

O-Dog was giving his opinion on Marchenko during the latest episode of TSN's OverDrive, and the former Maple Leaf and Hurricanes winger was blunt in his assessment of the Russian forward, and he isn't really buying what he's selling so far:

I think Marchenko has been a little bit sleepy since he scored during that home game. I don't think he's been fantastic. I am totally not dumping on the guy, but he was sleepy during Colorado and he was sleepy during two-and-a-half periods last night.

He had some chances in the end, he tried. But he can definitely be better. It's one guy that needs to be better.

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I wouldn't necessarily say a guy in the 88th percentile in max skating speed and in the 98th percentile in 20-22 mph bursts sleepy and he did lead the team in Corsi % against Utah with an astounding 87.9% (he controlled nearly 88% of the puck during his time on the ice).

Marchenko needs to be a little more selfish

But Marchenko does need to start showing a little more lethality. His one goal was a nifty little deke into a backhand, but he has to start finding more high-danger chances. He has five shots in the slot but has none within three feet of the crease, or at the low goal line.

If he wants to use that deadly shot more often then finding open lanes is critical. He also has to be a little more selfish because while he's driving the offense and being a puck mover, he needs to also use his finishing.

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Those are two prime chances that Marchenko needs to capitalize on, and while things will come in time, it would bring some relief if he started scoring.

He also needs to start firing away more as he only has two shots over his last two games as opposed to the 15 combined he had through five. Once he starts putting more shots on target, the goals will come.

So O'Neill may not be too pleased with Marchenko's lack of scoring ability early on but since it's only seven games in, with six more years of him to go - maybe we should reserve judgement until a bit later on.

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