Mitch Marner
Mitch Marner recorded 35 goals and 62 assists for 97 points in 72 games last season. His best season to date, and it could have been even better.
Had he played the first half of the season the way he played the second half, he likely would have been in NHL’s top three in points. He had 45 points in his first 40 games, followed by 52 points in his next 32 games. His scoring pace in the second half would have resulted in 117 points had he been on that pace for all 72 games he played.
After returning from injury in mid January, Marner scored beyond a 50 goal pace that would see him beat Connor McDavid’s career high in points had he have maintained it all year. He was something close to the NHL’s MVP after January, leading the NHL in points and scoring the third most goals, and if he keeps it up at that level the Leafs are going to be hard to stop.
Marner got used a lot on the Toronto Maple Leafs penalty kill. He had a 54.5% faceoff win percentage while short-handed and scored three short-handed goals. Marner recorded 72 takeaways last season, with 14 coming while playing short-handed.
After years of being criticized for performing in the playoffs, Marner registered eight points in seven games against the Lightning. He did everything he could to help Toronto win, including one of the most dominating games of his career in game seven, which was only spoiled by one of the NHL’s best goalies of all-time having one of his best games.
Ultimately he finished 4th in 5v5 scoring, while providing elite defense and being the best player in the NHL for half a season. A future Hart Trophy is not out of the question.