Toronto Maple Leafs: Mitch Marner Climbs to 10th in Franchise History

It was just eight seasons ago, that the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Mitch Marner fourth overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

The skillful forward was coming off averaging two points a game as he collected 126 points in 63 games with the London Knights when the Toronto Maple Leafs selected him.

The question was, would that translate to the NHL?

Was there ever any doubt?

Mitch Marner Climbs to 10th in Toronto Maple Leafs Franchise History

That upcoming season after the draft was set to be arguably the worst season in franchise history and to keep him away from constant losing, Marner was sent back to Ontario Hockey League.

He would finish that  season second in OHL scoring and take home the Red Tilson Trophy as the most outstanding player of the year.

He would follow that up with helping the London Knights win the OHL Championship and took home playoff MVP.

To top off those awards, the Knights would win the Memorial Cup, which led to Marner winning the Memorial Cup MVP and he finished it off with CHL Player of the Year.

Toronto Maple Leafs fans would finally get to watch him, along with Auston Matthews and William Nylander form one of the best young trios in the NHL.

It has now been seven seasons and fans are getting to watch three of the most skilled players in franchise history play together.  Never before has the franchise had the skill level of three players in the prime of their careers all playing together.

Fans have got a Mats Sundin, a Darryl Sittler and a Doug Gilmour, but they have never got them all together at the same time for almost a decade.

This past weekend, Marner made a new statement as his four point game against the Edmonton Oilers gave him 538 points which lifted him past Rick Vaive for tenth all-time in points.

He is now on pace for 105 points which would make him just the fourth player in franchise history to reach the 100-point mark (Sittler, Gilmour and Matthews).

Marner was able to pass Vaive in 42 less games, despite playing in an era when it is much harder to score, and could potentially pass Ted Kennedy, Bob Pullford and Ron Ellis by the end of the 2023-24 season.

This would put Marner sixth all-time in franchise scoring and making a charge at not just top five but the top of the list with Matthews pushing up right with him.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Marner have two-years after this season left on his contract and if eight-year extension were to follow, one of Marner or Matthews (if he signs an extension) should finish as the all-time franchise leader with the other finishing second.

To have two of these players, along with Nylander, who could finish near the top playing at the same time is something only a few franchises in the history of the NHL has got to see.