Former quotes by Jeremy Roenick about Patrick Marleau surface and have people thinking about Auston Matthews
When Lou Lamoirello signed Patrick Marleau to join the Toronto Maple Leafs on a 3-year deal, he was intended to be the mentor for young players like Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews. Unfortunately Marleau didn't end up playing that role and his play fell off so drastically he was ultimately traded to the Carolina Hurricanes who bought out his deal.
Today old quotes from Jeremy Roenick resurfaced online and have fans thinking about the performance of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. The following quotes appear in Roenick's book.
"One night I even went to his home to discuss the struggles he was going through. It was around Thanksgiving. I was with my family at home. But I
couldn't stop thinking about the team and how dominant the Sharks could be if Marleau would realize his potential. After thinking about it all day, I couldn't take it anymore. I left my family, I
climbed into my car and drove to Marleau's home. My intention wasn't to yell at him. I wanted to inspire him, to let him know that his teammates were behind him. went there to tell him that I believed he could be one of the league's very best players if he just altered his game slightly, He needed play with more of an edge. He needed to show some bigger balls when the game was on the line.
"What no one seems to understand is that I believe Marleau is a special talent Marleau frustrated me when I
played with him because I wanted more from him. He was earning $6.9 million per season and I just didn't believe he brought the superstar effort that you would expect from that caliber of player.
I tried to tell him that that night, but I could tell 10 minutes into our
conversation that I was wasting my time. He considered my arrival at his house an intrusion. He listened to me, but he never did anything to change the way he was."
Throughout their careers Marner and Matthews have both forced allegations of not being able to take their games to superstar levels when things get tough. Articles like this have to create at least some concern for Leafs fans that the culture they've built is clearly broken.
POLL |
Do you think Patrick Marleau influence a losing culture? |
Yes, he's a career loser | 62 | 31.6 % |
No, he helped the kids | 52 | 26.5 % |
It's a bit of both | 57 | 29.1 % |
See results | 25 | 12.8 % |
List of polls |
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Previously on Bladeofsteel