C Mitchell Marner - London Knights, OHL (2015, 4th, TOR) IV

[ponder]

For the attitude part, I may have been a bit vague. I didn't mean he wasn't a good teammate or that he did other things that were detrimental to the team, it was more to do with what we saw in the WJ (and he was not the only one guilty of this because the whole Canadian team including the coaching staff showed their immaturity). He needs to be able to keep his composure and not be swayed in a negative manner by the events happening in an important game. He needs to mature to better handle the pressure he and others will put on him.

But you hit the nail right on the head with the bolded part. I completely agree with everything you said there exactly the way you said it.

And I'm not worried either.

Agreed on everything then

Agreed as well. I think it's exactly the reason why Marner won't make the automatic jump into the NHL like some might expect. A year in the AHL will do a world of good

I'm pretty sure the AHL is a non-option next year, right? He'd either have to make the jump to the NHL, or spend one more year in juniors, due to the gross CHL/AHL protectionist agreement. Honestly, I both the NHL and CHL are likely to be poor options for him next year - probably not quite NHL ready next season, and at this point the CHL is just reenforcing bad habits, he's already offensively dominant there and really needs to learn to play a pro/man's game.

If he's not quite NHL ready next season, I wonder if the Leafs would consider something really "out of the box", like sending him to play in Europe? Marc Crawford seems to be doing a great job with Auston Matthews in Zurich, maybe try Marner there? Would be a very unusual move, but could be a good idea IMO.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Agreed on everything then

I'm pretty sure the AHL is a non-option next year, right? He'd either have to make the jump to the NHL, or spend one more year in juniors, due to the gross CHL/AHL protectionist agreement. Honestly, I both the NHL and CHL are likely to be poor options for him next year - probably not quite NHL ready next season, and at this point the CHL is just reenforcing bad habits, he's already offensively dominant there and really needs to learn to play a pro/man's game.

If he's not quite NHL ready next season, I wonder if the Leafs would consider something really "out of the box", like sending him to play in Europe? Marc Crawford seems to be doing a great job with Auston Matthews in Zurich, maybe try Marner there? Would be a very unusual move, but could be a good idea IMO.

Correct it's the OHL or NHL next year for him sadly.

 

[HarrisonFord]

I'm pretty sure the AHL is a non-option next year, right? He'd either have to make the jump to the NHL, or spend one more year in juniors, due to the gross CHL/AHL protectionist agreement. Honestly, I both the NHL and CHL are likely to be poor options for him next year - probably not quite NHL ready next season, and at this point the CHL is just reenforcing bad habits, he's already offensively dominant there and really needs to learn to play a pro/man's game.

If he's not quite NHL ready next season, I wonder if the Leafs would consider something really "out of the box", like sending him to play in Europe? Marc Crawford seems to be doing a great job with Auston Matthews in Zurich, maybe try Marner there? Would be a very unusual move, but could be a good idea IMO.

That's something I didn't really think about. If it's between the CHL and NHL, the NHL is really probably the lessor of the two evils. At least he'll be able to be coached by Babcock that way. To be honest, I'm not sure what sort of eligibility he has in terms of going to Europe. I can't imagine the CHL allowing that loophole to exist to be honest

 

[ponder]

I asked if was really a kind of a rover.

He is all over the place, but will it, can it translate to the NHL?

People are really hung up on positions, Marner might the guy who defies the traditional view.

Roaming a bit is OK, but there's nobody in the NHL who roams like Marner currently does, ESPECIALLY wingers (and I do see him as a winger in the NHL, he's not even playing much C in the OHL). The current London strategy seems to be "give Marner the puck and let him do whatever he wants", which works fine because Marner is simply too good for the OHL. In the NHL he'll be one of many great players on the ice, won't make sense to have his teammates playing out of position all the time just to accommodate his roaming (already saw issues with this in the WJCs). Plus there's the defensive aspect - turnovers when you're roaming and dangling all over the place are very costly in the NHL, and if he tries to play this game in the NHL, he'll turn it over a lot against all the bigger, better defenders in the league.

Again, not worried about him long term, he's super skilled with a great attitude and will adjust, but I do believe this aspect of his game will have to change significantly. He can eventually get to the point where he can roam in the way that Patrick Kane does in the NHL, creative but controlled, but he can't keep playing the way he currently does in the OHL.

 

[ponder]

That's something I didn't really think about. If it's between the CHL and NHL, the NHL is really probably the lessor of the two evils. At least he'll be able to be coached by Babcock that way. To be honest, I'm not sure what sort of eligibility he has in terms of going to Europe. I can't imagine the CHL allowing that loophole to exist to be honest

I believe it's fine. The "4 years in the CHL or 20 years old" agreement is just between the CHL, AHL and ECHL - it's basically the NHL saying "fine, we won't take your stars and put them on our farm teams." However, the European pro leagues are completely different leagues, and I'm not aware of any agreements between those leagues and the CHL. If a player wants to go to Europe out of the CHL, I'm pretty sure they're free to do that whenever. It's just not common, as it's a big transition to make, and there's not a history of North American NHL prospects making this transition (like there is with European prospects coming to NA). However, Switzerland wouldn't be that much of a culture shock, especially on a team like Zurich, who have plenty of North Americans on the roster, and a North American coach.

Unlikely that it actually happens, but I think it's an option the Leafs/Marner should at least consider, if he's not NHL ready next year.

 

[HarrisonFord]

I believe it's fine. The "4 years in the CHL or 20 years old" agreement is just between the CHL, AHL and ECHL - it's basically the NHL saying "fine, we won't take your stars and put them on our farm teams." However, the European pro leagues are completely different leagues, and I'm not aware of any agreements between those leagues and the CHL. If a player wants to go to Europe out of the CHL, I'm pretty sure they're free to do that whenever. It's just not common, as it's a big transition to make, but Switzerland wouldn't be that much of a culture shock, especially on a team like Zurich, who have plenty of North Americans on the roster, and a North American coach.

Unlikely that it actually happens, but I think it's an option the Leafs/Marner should at least consider, if he's not NHL ready next year.

The only thing I can think of is if there's a problem legally if Marner goes to Europe on the team's recommendation and they consider that against the agreement. No idea what the agreement is, I just can't remember any players doing this - and my hunch is that it would have happened by now if it was allowed

 

[niguma]

Cancel Marner's CHL contract?

If Mitch Marner and London Knights jointly agree to cancel his existing contract with Knights, could he go play with Marlies?

Given that Mark Hunter co-owns the Knights, this might be in his best interest (or Leafs best interest). Marner would be better off in AHL if he can't make the Leafs next year.

This would be a bold move that the OHL would hate. I would think the Knights fans would hate this as well.
It would be an interesting loophole to exploit, if it is possible.

Anyone know how CHL contracts work?

 

[Claypool]

Call up Dean Lombardi.

 

[93LEAFS]

If Mitch Marner and London Knights jointly agree to cancel his existing contract with Knights, could he go play with Marlies?

Given that Mark Hunter co-owns the Knights, this might be in his best interest (or Leafs best interest). Marner would be better off in AHL if he can't make the Leafs next year.

This would be a bold move that the OHL would hate. I would think the Knights fans would hate this as well.
It would be an interesting loophole to exploit, if it is possible.

Anyone know how CHL contracts work?

The Hunters aren't going to start a war with the CHL over one prospect, plus the league would probably sanction the leafs saying that they paid him to do this. I'd love to see Marner on the leafs and have cheered for the Knights since my time at UWO, and this would not end positively for either franchise. Marner I'm pretty sure could cancel his contract tomorrow and play in any non-NHL affiliated league (AHL/ECHL) but that would be very risky sending him to europe with no support system.

 

[Jyrki Lumme]

He'll be able to play in the NHL next year. Kane was able to put up 71 points in his first year. Marner at draft year +1 will be at a similar place in terms of talent and physical development as Kane was as an 18 year old (I'm not saying Marner is going to put up 70 points btw).

 

[tigervixxxen]

It doesn't work like that, he was drafted out of the CHL therefore the agreement between the NHL and CHL applies.

 

[beachcomber]

He'll be able to play in the NHL next year. Kane was able to put up 71 points in his first year. Marner at draft year +1 will be at a similar place in terms of talent and physical development as Kane was as an 18 year old (I'm not saying Marner is going to put up 70 points btw).

He is no Patrick Kane.

 

[ottawah]

If Mitch Marner and London Knights jointly agree to cancel his existing contract with Knights, could he go play with Marlies?

Given that Mark Hunter co-owns the Knights, this might be in his best interest (or Leafs best interest). Marner would be better off in AHL if he can't make the Leafs next year.

This would be a bold move that the OHL would hate. I would think the Knights fans would hate this as well.
It would be an interesting loophole to exploit, if it is possible.

Anyone know how CHL contracts work?

It depends on where you are drafted out of, not where you are playing.

Best example to use is Burakovsky. He was drafted out of Europe. Came to play in the CHL at 18 (Erie), and the next year split time between Washington and AHL. Because he was not drafted from the CHL, that was an option.

 

[trick9]

If Mitch Marner and London Knights jointly agree to cancel his existing contract with Knights, could he go play with Marlies?

Given that Mark Hunter co-owns the Knights, this might be in his best interest (or Leafs best interest). Marner would be better off in AHL if he can't make the Leafs next year.

This would be a bold move that the OHL would hate. I would think the Knights fans would hate this as well.
It would be an interesting loophole to exploit, if it is possible.

Anyone know how CHL contracts work?

You pretty much cancel out that argument by yourself.

 

[Warden of the North]

Agreed as well. I think it's exactly the reason why Marner won't make the automatic jump into the NHL like some might expect. A year in the AHL will do a world of good

This puts him at least two more seasons away. Thats not going to happen

 

[Countryjunkie]

Next season the OHL is of no use to Mitch Marner. He has already demonstrated that he can dominate the game at the CHL level and it's time to move on with his development.

I honestly expect Mitch Marner to be playing with the Leafs next year. He should be able to put up 30 to 40 points in his first NHL season, and build on his career from there. I also expect him be a winger in the NHL, and there's nothing wrong with that at all.

 

[torontosports10]

If for whatever reason he is not ready for the NHL next season, and we all know that he cannot play in the AHL, and that he has already dominated the CHL, could he:

Possible go play in Europe? Go play in Zurich under Crawford for half a season then come over? Or stay there?

I know the Leafs might want to control his development a bit better than having him play over there, but I'd argue that would be a better option then having him in the OHL again if he isn't going to make the team.

 

[Maplebeasts]

I for one am ok with him making the Leafs next year as he will be easily amongst our 6 most talented forwards at training camp. The thing is that the aleafs have to be smart with how they bring him in and use him in his first season or two. A sheltered role on the third line seems like the ideal place to start him, possibly on a line with Komarov and Holland. From there it would make sense to let him move up the line up as he deserves it.

 

[HarrisonFord]

This puts him at least two more seasons away. Thats not going to happen

Yeah I know. I was mistakenly thinking he could be in the AHL next year

 

[Apotheosis]

He is no Patrick Kane.

Statistically comparable to him on the Knights in his draft year and stylistically almost identical.

 

[mrcshlbrstrm*]

I just can't imagine any world where a guy named "Mitchell" becomes an NHL star. It won't happen.

 

[covfefe]

I just can't imagine any world where a guy named "Mitchell" becomes an NHL star. It won't happen.

Even though this stud named Phil managed to do it?

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

Tonight his point streak came to an end

 

[mrcshlbrstrm*]

Even though this stud named Phil managed to do it?

Yeah, but Phil rhymes with thrill. Mitchell though, not feeling it.

 

[Anthony Mauro]

There is something to many of the low BMI players at June's draft not really seeing any change developmentally in the first half of 2015-2016.

I expect guys like Mitchell Marner and Brad Morrison, to name another, to experience a wave of development in the near future. It's possible their physical development, weight gain specifically, hasn't crossed a threshold yet to affect their skill application markedly.