17. We?re going to get interesting insight into the way the Toronto Maple Leafs organization really thinks, and the test case is going to be Martin Marincin. Marincin is playing very well as the season progresses, getting more minutes almost by attrition. He has, for a few years now, been highly regarded by the analytics community and Toronto?s assembled a bright staff of these thinkers.
Last year, there was no doubt they had influence. When Lou Lamoriello and Mike Babcock arrived, the feeling was that influence would decrease, by a large margin. Marincin is not a points producer. He?s not overly physical. He defends well. I?m very curious to see how much Babcock/Lamoriello value him at contract time and as the organization grows in talent.