On Sheldon Keefe’s top power-play unit, that means an unfamiliar spot in the middle of the ice often referred to as the bumper position. There it will be Marner’s job to offer a passing outlet to teammates and fire loose pucks toward the net. Entering his age-24 season, there may be no more compelling Maple Leaf. And somewhere well down the road — somewhere Marner doesn’t yet want to think about — he’ll be thrown back in the middle of the playoff pressure-cooker. Long after Game 7 ended, the cameras showed Marner and linemate Auston Matthews still in their gear in the dressing room.

Source: thestar September 28, 2021 00:22 UTC