Struggling Mitch Marner admits the truth

It's a critical year for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are coming off the heels of winning their 1st playoff series in 19 years and also made a major organizational change in management with the removal of Kyle Dubas in favor of Brad Treliving.

While Treliving has made several changes to the roster, the "Core 4" of John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander remain in place. And while Nylander is on a torrid pace to start the year, one player who isn't playing up to his talent level is Marner. 

Following yet another subpar game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Marner even earned himself a callout from head coach Sheldon Keefe, who stated that Marner wasn’t “executing at the level that you’d expect" and has not “found his groove here yet.” 

As far as Marner is concerned, he knows that he needs to take his game to another level that he hasn't been able to find just yet.

"Obviously not as great as it usually is, and as I like it," he said of his current play.

"Just not getting the puck with a whole lot of speed with myself moving and not really trusting my abilities out there," he continued. "Just have to trust it."

The Leafs will certainly need more out of Marner, who had similar stats at this point last season before going on an offensive tear. Can he do it again? 

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