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Toronto Maple Leafs: Comparing Matthews/Marner With Toews/Kane

By Matthew Rodrigopulle

Dec 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) and center Mitch Marner (16) step onto the ice before the start of their game against the San Jose Sharks at Air Canada Centre. The Sharks beat the Maple Leafs 3-2 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) and center Mitch Marner (16) step onto the ice before the start of their game against the San Jose Sharks at Air Canada Centre. The Sharks beat the Maple Leafs 3-2 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 21, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner (16) scores on Ottawa Senators goaltender Mike Condon (1) in the shoot out at the Air Canada Centre. Ottawa defeated Toronto 3-2 in an overtime shoot out. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner (16) scores on Ottawa Senators goaltender Mike Condon (1) in the shoot out at the Air Canada Centre. Ottawa defeated Toronto 3-2 in an overtime shoot out. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Skillset Matching

Like I mentioned in my earlier article comparing the Hawks and the Leafs, Matthews is very much like Toews and Marner is a lot like Kane.

Drafted 10 years apart, Jonathan Toews and Auston Matthews are very similar in terms of their two-way forward play style. They are both bigger bodies with lethal defensive abilities.

Patrick Kane and Mitch Marner are also very similar in the fact that they are both small, agile, skillful forwards who have a knack for the puck.

The two have been compared a lot, and it seems like quite an accurate comparison. Patrick Kane has accomplished a lot over the course of his career though, and it’s hard to predict exactly how much of this Marner can emulate.

Matthews and Marner really are the closest comparisons you can find for Toews and Kane in the league right now. When it comes down to their play, it’s almost scary how the younger pair seem to emulate the latter.

Just in their rookie seasons alone, you can see how Matthew and Marner each display these types of play. Matthews has the two way play, while Marner definitely has the quick hands. It’ll be interesting to see how each pan out.

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