Mitch Marner may not be a strapping 6'4", 225-pound centre. What he is, though, is a highly skilled forward who can play at centre or on the wing. Instantly, he becomes the most talented prospect in the Toronto Maple Leafs' stable of prospects.
Granted, the Leafs didn't get either of the two "franchise" centres in this year's NHL draft. While Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel will be playing with the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres, respectively, selecting Mitch Marner was a good pick at No. 4.
Let's look at the top three reasons why the London Knights centre was such a good choice for the Maple Leafs.
1. Mitch Marner is an Exceptional Attacking Player
Mitch Marner lit up the Ontario Hockey League this past season. As a 17-year-old, the Markham, Ontario, native scored 126 points in 63 games. This was good for second place in the OHL scoring race despite playing on a good, but not great, OHL team.
Marner's London Knights were the sixth-best team in the OHL's regular season, as judged by point totals, and two other teams were within sniffing dist ...
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Article written by James Onusko