TORONTO, ON – APRIL 23: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre on April 23, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
Mitch Marner
With the 4th pick, “the Toronto Maple Leafs select Mitchell Marner from the London Knights”. From the moment the Leafs called Mitch Marner’s name, the questions began. Was he the right choice? How could they pass on Hanafin? Is Marner too small? Will his game translate to the NHL? Is there a way for him to spend the year in the AHL? On and on they went.
Mitch Marner has had many of those same questions asked at every level he has played. As a matter of fact, the questions of his size have dogged him throughout his entire career. What has Marner done when asked those same questions? Silence his detractors with his play.
Marner scored 16 goals, added 28 assists for 44 points and was +30 in 18 playoff games leading the Knights to the OHL championship, winners of the J. Ross Robertson Cup. In the Memorial Cup round-robin, Marner continued his dominance scoring 2 goals and 12 assists for14 points (3.5 ppg) finishing +10 in four games.
So how good was Mitch Marner in his D +1 season?
"CHL Memorial Cup (Team championship) Stafford Smythe Trophy (CHL Memorial Cup Most Valuable Player award) CHL Player of the Year J. Ross Robertson Cup (OHL Cup – Team Championship) Red Tilson Trophy (OHL Most Outstanding Player) OHL Playoffs most assists (He had 28 helpers) OHL playoffs most points (He had 44 playoff points) Wayne Gretzky 99 Award (OHL playoffs MVP) hockeywriters.com"
Marner’s First NHL Season 2016-17
Marner played 77 games for the Leafs scoring 19 times while adding a franchise rookie record 42 assists. He dazzles teammates and opponents alike with his otherworldly vision, puck skills, and effortless skating. Marner also won the NHL Rookie of the Month award for January 2017.
After years of draft mismanagement, trading high picks or selecting draft busts, it appears that Shanahan, Mark Hunter, and the new scouting department knows all about drafting skill over truculence. Marner is the second piece of the supremely talented rookie core.
The Leafs picks from 2010 onwards→ Ross, Biggs, Percy, Rielly, Gauthier, Nylander and Marner.
The Leafs could have had → Seguin, Hamilton, Rakell, Rielly, André Burakovsky (Shea Theodore) Nylander and Marner.
Mitch Marner is the second piece of the three-headed Mathlander monster.