Well, we've gone through all the prospects on the list and seen many different cases, and now we're at number one. The beginning of this prospect's journey as a Leaf came at the 2015 NHL Draft. The Leafs were expected to take skill over size for the first time in a long time, and interim GM Mark Hunter did just that. He stepped up to the stage, and selected forward Mitch Marner from the London Knights of the OHL.
Marner has an interesting case with the Leafs. When Hunter was GM of the Knights in 2013, he selected Marner with the 19th overall pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection, so these two weren't strangers. Marner joined the OHL in the 2013-14 season and put up good numbers, registering 59 points in 64 games. Pretty good, right? Well, compared to the following year, those numbers looked tiny. He stepped up and recorded 126 points in 63 games and finished second in the OHL scoring race, trailing only Dylan Strome. The Thornhill, Ontario native played both centre and right wing, but Hunter says he expects Marner to play centre in the NHL.
This is truly a good story for the Leafs. A hometown boy who grew up a Leafs fan drafted by his favourite team growing up. He may be small, standing at only 5'11 and 161lbs, but he doesn't lack any aspect to his game. He plays with heart and knows how to play defense, and isn't afraid to throw the body. He certainly has room to grow a few inches and put on some weight, so Leafs fans shouldn't be too concerned about his size. He's in the same situation Morgan Rielly was in two years ago, where he's not neccessarily good enough for the NHL, but he's too good for the OHL, and ineligible for the AHL. Given the Leafs new development plan, it looks like the Leafs will give him one final year to tear it up with the Knights before he gets a true shot to make the team.
POSSIBLE NHL CEILING: FIRST LINE FORWARD
One of the most handy aspects to Marner's game is that he can play both centre and wing, so he could likely fulfill either spot on the top line. He simply has top line potential. If he's on the wing, he plays a game similar to Patrick Kane. If he's playing centre, he's similar to Claude Giroux or former Leafs fan favourite Dougie Gilmour. He has the tools and the heart to be a future fan favourite for the Leafs.
PROSPECT GRADE: A+
Say what you want about me being too quick to give him an A+, but Marner will be a star player in this league for years to come. Scouts had him ranked as the most skilled player in the draft behind Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, and he's only 18. He's showing signs of being the next generation Dougie Gilmour, and right out of the draft he was pegged as the Leafs #1 prospect. Leafs fans should be excited about this kid.
What do you think, Leafs fans? Should Marner be ranked lower, or is #1 good for him? Weigh in below.
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