Toronto Maple Leafs Forward Grades 2019-20 Regular Season

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 17: Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Toronto Maple Leafs waits for a faceoff against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 17, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sabres 5-3.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 17: Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Toronto Maple Leafs waits for a faceoff against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 17, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sabres 5-3.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
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Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images).

Mitch Marner

Mitch Marner scored 94 points last year, then he signed a contract that will keep him in Toronto until he is 28, paying him almost $11  million dollars per year.

In year one of the big contract, Marner failed to reach expectations – but only because the expectations his contract and the city he plays in foist upon him are enormous.

Marner scored 67 points in 59 games while posting an elite 55% expected goals rating.  He was worth 1.9 WAR and continued to be one of the most fun players in the entire league to watch.

The only thing you can say about Marner’s game this year is that he left you wanting more.  He was very good, but he can be great.  He also missed 11 games and if you add in the canceled games, that’s over 25% of the season.

In the future, Marner is going to crack 100 points and that is pretty much a guarantee.  But the question is, can he become a 35-40 goal scorer and be truly great?

I think he can be.  For now it’s a B but that is only because he didn’t play as good as he can. – for most anyone else, it’s an A season.