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Maple Leafs: Six Story Lines to Keep An Eye on This Season

By Eduardo Razo

Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Auston Matthews puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number one overall draft pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Auston Matthews puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number one overall draft pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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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 /

The curious case of Mitch Marner

Last season, Marner scored 39 goals and racked up 116 points last season as he helped guide the London Knights to a J. Ross Robertson Cup and then to a Memorial Cup, but that would not be the only hardware for him. Marner was able to win Memorial Cup MVP, the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) most outstanding player, and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) player of the year.

Even after all that he has accomplished it is still no guarantee that he makes the Maple Leafs and he’s too young for the American Hockey League, so the only other option would be to go back to London. Marner more than likely does not want to go back to junior, but it will be up to him to prove that he is worth at least a nine game trial with the Maple Leafs.

Marner has some support from Mike Babcock, who stated that Marner will be given an opportunity to make the Maple Leafs this season, so this shows that Marner might be on the team to start the season. Also, there’s no doubt that he will get the nine game trial with the Maple Leafs, but it will be up to him as to whether or not he stays in Toronto or goes back to London.

Needless to say Marner’s days in junior hockey should be done, at least to start the season and the Maple Leafs should look to spread out his nine games, unless he proves otherwise.

Then, there’s no doubt that Marner will be sent to the minors for some “conditioning” and just stall until they loan him to Hockey Canada for the World Juniors which will be in Toronto (and Montréal) and after that it will be interesting to see what management decides to do with him.

Next: Morgan Rielly's Growth

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