Doug Gilmour was always undersized during his career, but he was able to hit the 100 point plateau twice with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He may have been small in stature but he was tall in drive and dedication. Will Mitch Marner have the same results?
The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Gilmour on January 2nd, 1992, alongside Jamie Macoun, Kent Manderville, Ric Nattress and Rick Wamsley for Craig Berube, Alexander Godynyuk, Gary Leeman, Michel Petit and Jeff Reese.
Marner was drafted by the Leafs fourth overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
Similarity #1: Small Stature, Big Drive
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Gilmour was drafted 134th overall in the 1982 NHL draft because of his small stature. Standing at just 5’11” and weighing 175 lb, Gilmour was one of the smaller players in the league. That could be why he succeeded. If management undervalued him, then most likely, so did the players. This forced Gilmour to play the game with a lot of drive to prove everybody wrong. Being drafted in 1982, two seasons later, Gilmour made his NHL debut producing 53 points in 80 games (with the St. Louis Blues).
Marner has the same story, he’s been seen as “too small to play” by many. There were a lot of rumours surrounding him during the 2015-16 season in regards to if he is big enough to play in the NHL. People were generally scared that he would get hurt at this level. But what many failed to realize, just like Gilmour, he won’t get hurt if you can’t hit him. Marner works hard and that’s why fans love him, seeing his drive and dedication to the game is very exciting.
Both players have been undersized during their career but they both have fought off the critics. With their hard work and love for the game, they have been able to be successful in the NHL.
Similarity #2: True Leader
Over his career, Gilmour captained the Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks and was an assistant for the Blues, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, and the Montreal Canadiens. He led by example, hard work, and dedication to the game and by sticking up for his teammates. He was a voice in the locker room and on the ice. By picking the perfect moment, Gilmour could change the result of a game just by delivering a big hit or getting a timely goal. He knew the struggles of making it to the NHL and would take it upon himself to help the younger guys on the team.
Mitch has the same traits. While he may not have received a letter in the NHL, yet, he still leads by example. Times in the NHL have changed so you won’t see any dirty hits but he will stick up for his teammates. You will see him push other players if they attack one of his own. He has also been a captain in juniors for the London Knights, showing everybody that he has what it takes to lead a team. His dedication to the game fuels his teammate’s energy and that’s why he’s such an exciting player to watch.
Gilmour and Marner can lead their teams on and off the ice. They are both responsible, hard working players that lead by example.
Similarity #3: Elite Production
In Gilmour’s first season with the Leafs, he produced 49 points in 40 games (he was traded halfway through the season; 87 points in 78 games in total). He had a career high 127 points in 83 games during the 1992-93 season (which is ironic since he wore the number 93). Over his career, he produced 450 goals, 964 assists for 1,301 points in 1,474 games. He ranks 14th all-time in assists and 18th all-time in points. That puts him up there with the best players in NHL history. And to think, in his first three NHL seasons he couldn’t surpass 57 points.
Marner produced 61 points in 77 games played during his first season. This is in an era where scoring is at an all time low. Tying him to 35th in the league in points during the season with veterans such as Jakub Voracek and Ryan Johansen. He was also 30th in assists, and this is while being a rookie. Imagine what he can accomplish when he’s a veteran in the league. The future is bright for Mitch just as it was for Dougie.
Both players are able to play at an elite level. They can keep up with some of the best players in the game and therefore are some of the best in the game. They use their small stature as an advantage to squeeze their way through small openings and create chances for their teammates to score. Both players have elite playmaking abilities that are hard to defend against.
Conclusion
Gilmour is one of the greatest players to play the game and Marner could easily be compared to his playing style. Both players have been undersized for their entire careers but use their hard work and dedication to prove their critics wrong. They have lead teams to the playoffs and Gilmour even has his name on the Stanley Cup. With their elite skill set, they are able to use their small stature to their advantage and create open space for themselves to create scoring chances.
If I had to choose between the two, I would have to give the edge to Gilmour. While Marner is still young and does have a bright future, Dougie has done too much and Marner would need to surpass it all to be considered a better player than Gilmour.
I believe Marner will be a great player but Gilmour has the edge, for now.
*stats from hockeydb.com