Mitch Marner is one of the Toronto Maple Leafs most coveted young stars, heading into his second NHL season with limitless potential. The 20-year-old proved his worth as one of the Leafs most relied upon point producers as a rookie. He will continue to thrive as a National Hockey League player in seasons to come.
Toronto Maple Leafs Roster Preview, 50-in-50: Mitch Marner
Mitch Marner began his sensational hockey career in 2013-14 as a top NHL prospect on the London Knights. He tallied 59 points in 64 games, and led the Knights as one of the top teams in the OHL until the 2015-16 season. Marner completed his junior career with 301 points in 184 games, excluding the Knights widely successful playoff runs. One of his most notable OHL achievements was his astounding +/- statistics. In his final season with the London Knights, Mitch Marner contributed to a substantial number of goals, giving him a +/- of 45.
Marner was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs fourth overall in the first round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Once drafted, Marner was arguably NHL ready, dominating the OHL with 116 points in 2015-16. Behind Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, Marner was considered to have one of the highest potential ceilings in his draft class.
Analytically Speaking (via HockeyReference)
If you’re a Maple Leafs fan, or hockey fan in general, you know that Mitch Marner’s rookie year was phenomenal. Toronto’s young gun posted 61 points in 77 games last season, earning him fifth place in Calder Trophy votes.
Marner’s role as a Leafs forward is served as an undisputed point producer. Despite only having one season under his belt, he has been adopted as a member of Toronto’s core roster with open arms. Performing alongside Tyler Bozak and James Van Riemsdyk complimented his style of play, allowing him to create plays and finish them when needed. Marner’s speed is nothing to be overlooked, enabling him to keep up with the league’s best. Despite his size relative to his opponents, Mitch Marner has secured his spot as a face of the future.
In terms of advanced stats, it would be unfair to hold Marner’s only season over his head. His possession metrics at even strength include a 0.3% relative Corsi. This proves that for some players, advanced stats may not do justice to their level of play and performance.
Profile (via EliteProspects)
Age: 20
Position: RW/C
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 170 lbs
NHL Entry Draft: First round, 4th Overall in 2015 by Toronto
Contract (via CapFriendly)
As a Leafs rookie, Mitch Marner is currently playing out his three year entry level contract. His accumulated cap hit sits at $894,167, the sum of which goes towards Toronto’s final cap hit value. However, due to his impressive level of play last season, Marner obtained performance bonuses that were added onto his entry level cap hit. Therefore, Mitch Marner earned $850,000 in performance bonuses, rocketing his annual average salary (AAV) to $1,744,167.
2017-18 Season
If his 2016-17 season is any indicator of the level of play Mitch Marner brings to the ice, the Toronto Maple Leafs have found themselves yet another young gem. The amount of skill inside that 5’11”, 170 pound frame is astounding, and will continue to flourish with experience. Mitch Marner proved to Leafs nation that he’s the real deal, and will continue to be a main piece in Toronto’s quest for Cup contention.
TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 19: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against Oscar Lindberg #24 of the New York Rangers during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on January 19, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Rangers defeated the Maple Leafs 5-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
