The contrast between the stunning skill and alarming lack of size possessed by top draft prospect Mitchell Marner creates perhaps the most intriguing storyline of the upcoming 2015 NHL draft.
For the Carolina Hurricanes, picking fifth and right in the projected selection range for Marner, Marner's two-sided resume will test general manager Ron Francis' willingness to take a risk on the draft's biggest "hit or miss" player.
It's highly likely that Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Dylan Strome and Noah Hanifin will go to Edmonton, Buffalo, Arizona and Toronto in some order during the top four picks. (Marner is on the record that he'd "love" for the Leafs to pick him, but his desires hardly matter in reality.)
That would leave the 'Canes with a diverse cast of forwards—small and large, North American and international—from which to choose.
The instant and certain franchise-changing players (McDavid and Eichel) will not be options, but Marner could also be franchise-changing. It won't be instant or certain, but Francis may be willing to take that risk regardless.
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Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Mark Jones
Pros and Cons of Mitchell Marner as Possible Carolina Hurricanes Draft Pick
May 5th, 2015 by Mark Jones Leave a reply »
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