C Mitchell Marner - London Knights, OHL (2015 Draft)

[1972]

Jesus this is getting silly.

 

[Einzakin]

Marner could go #2. Eichel is one developmental year ahead of Marner, Eichel played a level higher than midget for 3 years, Marner has played a higher level than midget for 2 years. So it would make more sense to compare Marner's draft+1 year to Eichel's draft year (this year). I would say Marner's hockey sense is better but Eichel's bigger and stronger.

no, no.

 

[Territory]

Hopefully Marner is available at 4, if the leafs pick 4th.

 

[Bps21*]

Lol canadian posters.

It isn't close.

And I say that as a fan of a team that is playing their way out of Eichel. It just isn't even close.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Lol canadian posters.

It isn't close.

And I say that as a fan of a team that is playing their way out of Eichel. It just isn't even close.

It's closer with how ridiculous Marner has been this season+playoffs. You can't just brush aside what he's done. That said, I'd be shocked if whoever picks 2nd passes on Eichel. I'm really, really hoping Marner slips to 4th where the Leafs likely end up, he's got to be making a case to make it tough to decide between he and Hanifin. Regardless, I don't think you can go wrong with this top 5 no matter who you get, you're looking at 2 legit generational talents and 2-3 franchise-changing players in Strome,Marner and Hanifin. It's a good year to stink.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

If we draft 3rd and Eichel is there for the taking I'd be thrilled. I really don't see it happening but anything's possible I suppose.

 

[Heraldic]

If we draft 3rd and Eichel is there for the taking I'd be thrilled. I really don't see it happening but anything's possible I suppose.

Many things are possible. Eichel being available at 3rd is not one of them.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Many things are possible. Eichel being available at 3rd is not one of them.

I would think so but hopefully the team ahead of the Oilers thinks that Marner > Eichel

 

[Heraldic]

I would think so but hopefully the team ahead of the Oilers thinks that Marner > Eichel

Neither of Sabres or Arizona is going to think that way. That's almost guaranteed. Eichel is as proven as you get, Marner firing it up in the playoffs won't change that.

If a team actually thinks that Eichel<Marner, they would just trade down a spot.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Lol canadian posters.

It isn't close.

And I say that as a fan of a team that is playing their way out of Eichel. It just isn't even close.

This. I'm a huge Marner fan, but he's behind McEichel.

Seems like some people in this thread have never seen Eichel play. Or its that obnoxious Canadian homerism.

 

[Mount Kramer Cameras]

If we draft 3rd and Eichel is there for the taking I'd be thrilled. I really don't see it happening but anything's possible I suppose.

 

[Knightnight]

This. I'm a huge Marner fan, but he's behind McEichel.

Seems like some people in this thread have never seen Eichel play. Or its that obnoxious Canadian homerism.

I am not a homer. I gaurantee I have seen many players in this draft class more than almost anyone and also throughout all there years of development. Saw White and Bracco since they were 8. Hanifan since he was 9... I have only seen Eichel this year and probably dozen times. I have seen McDavid more than anyone here other than his parents probably. Here is my take.

I agree that the lock of 1 2 and 3 is people just drinking the same water. If you take out Marners slow start to the season and including the playoffs so far he has posted 133 points in 56 games. McDavid has 126 in 51. You could not ask for a closer comparable as they play in the same league, same division and even same conference. Some things Marner has done that even McDavid has not this year. 5 hat tricks to 1. Four 6 point games for Marner to 1 for McDavid. Erie is a stronger team and has scored more goals. Marner is involved in a larger % of Londons goals than McD is in Erie. Mcdavid has the benefit of an extra year in the league and also Eichel too. Now I am not saying that Marner is McDavid but quite frankly people suggesting the gap between any of the top 5 prospects is huge is either brain washed or just really does not watch enough or does not know the stats. The problem is everyone can't get there head around the fact that the 2 chosen ones by the media and scouting services have had the gap closed by several other very good prospects. Just IMHO.

 

[Warden of the North]

Marner played wing all year except the last 3 games. (Obviously he's doing well at C right now but he's more of a winger prospect to me.)

The Leafs have this fear of letting kids play C. We could draft McDavid or Eichel and they'd play him at wing.

 

[Chips*]

This. I'm a huge Marner fan, but he's behind McEichel.

Seems like some people in this thread have never seen Eichel play. Or its that obnoxious Canadian homerism.

Instead of jumping to the "obnoxious Canadian homerism," consider that Canadians have more access to Canadian Junior hockey and availability to watching Marner play than they would Eichel. Myself, for instance, have only seen Eichel play in the WJC. I wasn't particularly blown away by his play. I have, however, seen Marner play for the London Knights against the Rangers, where he's been nothing short of dominant and commanding.

So it has less to do with being Canadian than it does availability.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I am not a homer. I gaurantee I have seen many players in this draft class more than almost anyone and also throughout all there years of development. Saw White and Bracco since they were 8. Hanifan since he was 9... I have only seen Eichel this year and probably dozen times. I have seen McDavid more than anyone here other than his parents probably. Here is my take.

I agree that the lock of 1 2 and 3 is people just drinking the same water. If you take out Marners slow start to the season and including the playoffs so far he has posted 133 points in 56 games. McDavid has 126 in 51. You could not ask for a closer comparable as they play in the same league, same division and even same conference. Some things Marner has done that even McDavid has not this year. 5 hat tricks to 1. Four 6 point games for Marner to 1 for McDavid. Erie is a stronger team and has scored more goals. Marner is involved in a larger % of Londons goals than McD is in Erie. Mcdavid has the benefit of an extra year in the league and also Eichel too. Now I am not saying that Marner is McDavid but quite frankly people suggesting the gap between any of the top 5 prospects is huge is either brain washed or just really does not watch enough or does not know the stats. The problem is everyone can't get there head around the fact that the 2 chosen ones by the media and scouting services have had the gap closed by several other very good prospects. Just IMHO.

This would be the correct interpretation.

 

[HockeyGuruPitka]

Lol canadian posters.

It isn't close.

And I say that as a fan of a team that is playing their way out of Eichel. It just isn't even close.

Its very easy to say this now, but did anyone think that Giroux was going to be a franchise player at 22nd overal? How about Kopitar at 11? Or even Toews at #3, Backstrom at #4, Bergeron at #45. I think you get my point. Lets not forget that neither of these players have played a game in the NHL. If Marner plays center he could very well be as good as Eichel. If he plays wing then it wont even be close, as a number 1 center is much more valuable to a team.

Marner has an intensity and a will to win that few in this draft has. Putting skill and ability asside. Its that type of attribute that you can build a successful team around.

 

[Knightnight]

This. I'm a huge Marner fan, but he's behind McEichel.

Seems like some people in this thread have never seen Eichel play. Or its that obnoxious Canadian homerism.

Now if you want me to really be a homer I could say let one of these American boys live up to the hype. Lord knows after watching Kessel here and Seguin in Dallas it saddens me. To me there have been very few that have ever lived up to the hype. Now that does not mean there have not been players that have over achieved like Dustin Brown. Love his game...
Before getting defensive my post was the gap closed on the top 2 not just Eichel.

 

[Heraldic]

Its very easy to say this now, but did anyone think that Giroux was going to be a franchise player at 22nd overal? How about Kopitar at 11? Or even Toews at #3, Backstrom at #4, Bergeron at #45. I think you get my point. Lets not forget that neither of these players have played a game in the NHL. If Marner plays center he could very well be as good as Eichel. If he plays wing then it wont even be close, as a number 1 center is much more valuable to a team.

Marner has an intensity and a will to win that few in this draft has. Putting skill and ability asside. Its that type of attribute that you can build a successful team around.

And Travis Konecny may end up being a lot better than Marner. That doesn't mean he is going to be taken before Marner.

Eichel may end up being another Patrik Stefan, but teams don't operate under these kind of scenarios, because they would end up just rolling dices.

 

[The Podium]

The only way I see Eichel falling to 3 is if Arizona is there and Maloney becomes infatuated with the idea of re-creating the London Knights. Even then I think the chances are slim to none.

 

[RoyalGremlin]

For me... including McDavid as a control metric, who should obviously be 5's across the board with the exception of Strength which, respectfully, goes to Eichel.

Skill
McDavid 5 - Marner 4.5 - Eichel 5

Speed
McDavid 5 - Marner 4.5 - Eichel 5

Strength
McDavid 4.5 - Marner 4 - Eichel 5

Hockey IQ
McDavid 5- Marner 4.5 - Eichel 4.5

Will to win / Compete
McDavid 5- Marner 5 - Eichel 4.5

 

[LeafsNation149]

Wow now i'm really leaning towards Marner, omg I just want the draft to happen already lol

 

[Random Forest]

Great, as if there weren't enough Canadian v. American pissing matches in the McDavid and Eichel threads...now we need them in the Marner threads?

For the SAME exact reason that Eichel still trails McDavid, Marner still trails Eichel. And I am a major fan of Marner.

Eichel had a historic season in the NCAA. Best player in the country as a freshman who accelerated schooling to get there. But McDavid's accomplishments are, at the least, equally impressive in the OHL, and for that reason, there's no objective reason to rank Eichel ahead of McDavid.

That logic is equally applicable to Marner/Eichel. Marner has done everything he could have possibly done to enter the discussion. BUT Eichel hasn't done anything to prove we should be having that discussion.


Marner is ****ing awesome, and barring a lotto win, he's the guy I want the Flyers to call in June. But there really isn't an objective argument to even entertain a Marner/Eichel conversation at this point. Sure, Marner could surprise and become better than Eichel. But the same is true for Eichel/McDavid. And Konecny/Marner, for that matter (as someone said before).

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I am not a homer. I gaurantee I have seen many players in this draft class more than almost anyone and also throughout all there years of development. Saw White and Bracco since they were 8. Hanifan since he was 9... I have only seen Eichel this year and probably dozen times. I have seen McDavid more than anyone here other than his parents probably. Here is my take.

I agree that the lock of 1 2 and 3 is people just drinking the same water. If you take out Marners slow start to the season and including the playoffs so far he has posted 133 points in 56 games. McDavid has 126 in 51. You could not ask for a closer comparable as they play in the same league, same division and even same conference. Some things Marner has done that even McDavid has not this year. 5 hat tricks to 1. Four 6 point games for Marner to 1 for McDavid. Erie is a stronger team and has scored more goals. Marner is involved in a larger % of Londons goals than McD is in Erie. Mcdavid has the benefit of an extra year in the league and also Eichel too. Now I am not saying that Marner is McDavid but quite frankly people suggesting the gap between any of the top 5 prospects is huge is either brain washed or just really does not watch enough or does not know the stats. The problem is everyone can't get there head around the fact that the 2 chosen ones by the media and scouting services have had the gap closed by several other very good prospects. Just IMHO.

I haven't seen one poster suggest that Marner could go ahead of McDavid. But many have stated that they think Marner could or should supersede Eichel at 2. Its a bit of a double standard.

 

[one77]

I wouldn't put Marner #2, but the gap between McDavid/Eichel and Marner is a lot closer than people think.

McDavid and Eichel are on another level and have been for years... but when it comes to compete level, talent and IQ, Marner is right there with them.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Now if you want me to really be a homer I could say let one of these American boys live up to the hype. Lord knows after watching Kessel here and Seguin in Dallas it saddens me. To me there have been very few that have ever lived up to the hype. Now that does not mean there have not been players that have over achieved like Dustin Brown. Love his game...
Before getting defensive my post was the gap closed on the top 2 not just Eichel.

Kessel has been a consistent 30+ goal, ppg scorer in his prime, playing with a garbage center for the time. He was hyped as a scorer, and has been one of the top 5-10 scorers over the past 5 years.

That Kane kid is pretty good too. Gaudreau too. Seth Jones is turning out nicely. Honestly, which over hyped Americans are you referring to? Because there's a long list of Canadians that match the same criteria.