Toronto Maple Leafs: Mitch Marner Heading to Worlds

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner and Mike Babcock made headlines for all the right reasons on Wednesday night.

Mitch Marner’s impressive rookie season with the Toronto Maple Leafs has turned plenty of heads and has earned himself an opportunity to represent Canada at the 2017 World Championships in Paris, France.

This should be great news for Toronto Maple Leaf fans who have an extended opportunity to see Marner play this season. The experience for Marner should only continue to bolster his development as a player and provide him with the opportunity to line up alongside other established NHL veterans. Other Maple Leaf players have decided to call it a year and get some much-needed rest, but Marner clearly has more left in the tank.

Marner’s Rookie Campaign

Marner finished fourth in rookie scoring this season, notching 61 points (19 goals/42 assists) in 77 games during his rookie campaign. It could be argued that in any other year Marner, and many other rookies, would have been a front-runner for the Calder Trophy. However this year we have seen such an influx of highly skilled rookie standouts who all had very impressive seasons.

Marner put up decent numbers in his first NHL playoff stint though, contributing 4 points (1 goal/3 assists) in the 6 playoff games. The lack of space and more brute style of playoff hockey is a difficult adjustment for many.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs will demand more from the young gun next season, but there is certainly much to be happy about regarding Mitch Marner’s development over the course of the year.

Babcock nominated for Jack Adams Trophy

Mike Babcock hasn’t won a Jack Adam’s Trophy. This must shock most people, considering he has seemingly won all that hockey has to offer. Babcock was named a finalist for the Jack Adams trophy on Wednesday night. Other finalists for the award were Todd McLellan (Edmonton, and John Tortorella (Columbus).

Mike Babcock has had a tremendous effect on the Maple Leafs organization. However, he faces some deserving competition if he wants to win his first Jack Adams trophy.

Personally, I give the edge to Babcock. Columbus players had to sit down with Tortorella during their rough stretch regarding his tone. They had numerous player only meetings and a less than stellar showing in the playoffs.

Losing became a part of the Maple Leafs culture, but what Babcock and Co. have done to protect their players and bring accountability to an organization that desperately needed it, well that deserves an award in itself.

He may not win the Jack Adams, but like Babcock has said over and over… the coach of the year is the one who raises the Stanley Cup at the end of the year.

Catch Mitch Marner in action when Canada faces the Czech Republic to open the World Championship tournament on May 5 in Paris, France.