Toronto Maple Leafs: Five Offseason Storylines

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Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Mitchell Marner puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Mitchell Marner puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Will Mitch Marner Make The Team?

This has been a huge debate as the NHL season came to a close. Will Marner make the Toronto Maple Leafs next year?

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There are only two options for the OHL’s most dominant player:

  1. Return to London and demolish the OHL again and;
  2. Suit up for the Toronto Maple Leafs

This is the downfall to the bush league agreement between the NHL and CHL regarding age limits.

Mitch Marner is above the OHL by a large margin and sending him back to London will accomplish nothing in his development.

Next: Are Toronto and Anaheim Good Trade Partners?

Playing with one of Matthews, Nylander or Kadri under Mike Babcock against NHL players will be much more beneficial to his growth as a player than returning to London and making 16-20 year old’s look like they should be playing Sudoku and not hockey.

The Leafs may want him in the AHL, but they’re going to have to suck it up and deal with him on the NHL roster and make it work. He’s too good for junior.