Mitch Marner has suddenly become the Toronto Maple Leafs best rookie, and arguably their best player this season. At the beginning of the season, many were skeptical on weather or not he would even play with the club this season. Look where we are now.
Marner leads all NHL rookies in scoring as well as the Leafs in scoring with 46 points in 53 games. He has 14 goals and 32 assists.
We all know that Mitch Marner can score pretty goals.
Mitch Marner continues to be absolutely unreal. https://t.co/OGPsRsyRQe
— NHL (@NHL) November 18, 2016
But it’s his effort and play without the puck, and will and desire to get it back, that is also impressive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ9rY0vx6Ho
Mitch Marner – The Toronto Maple Leafs Not So Secret Weapon
Playing on a line with veterans Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk has certainly helped the young star find his way in the NHL. They have nothing but high praise for the rookie.
Coach Mike Babcock said, “He competes with and without the puck. That’s really positive. I’ve never coached a kid that good that young.” Move over Auston Matthews.
Marner’s junior coach Dale Hunter of the London Knights, isn’t surprised at Marner’s NHL success, “He has a great motor,” Hunter said when asked to explain the massive ice time. “That means he’s able to play a lot of minutes, but he never stops on the forecheck or the backcheck.”
A Plethora of Young Talent
The Leafs obviously have a lot of young talent. You have No. 1 draft pick Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Connor Brown, Zack Hyman, Nikita Zaitsev, Nikita Soshnikov, Connor Carrick and Mitch Marner.
Three of the Leafs rookies have been named the NHL’s rookie of the month. William Nylander for October, Auston Matthews for December and Mitch Marner for January.
All are great hockey players, but, this season, Marner has been a stand-out that has sometimes been cast in the shadows of Matthews.
Boudreau: "That [Mitch] Marner's going to be unbelievable. Every time he touched the puck, I was worried. He has no fear for a 19yo." #leafs
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) December 8, 2016
This may be a good thing for Marner. Quietly having a stellar rookie season on the wing of the Leafs second line, while your line-mates and friends take the brunt of the media attention and you just keep playing your game. Not too shabby.
Marner hasn’t really had a slump this season either. He has really flourished under coach Mike Babcock and turned into a fast and reliable player offensively and defensively.
The Leafs are lucky to have such a plethora of young talent. This season, it appears that Mitch Marner has quietly stole the show, emerging as one of the Leafs best players, and one of their best not-so-secret weapons.
Main Photo:
OTTAWA, ON – OCTOBER 12: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates in his first career NHL game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on October 12, 2016 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
