Hanifin Or Marner?

[Bernier the Boats]

Haven't seen anyone but if every single draft service has Hanifin ranked 3 and he is still there at #4 I'd be extremely pissed if we didn't take him.

Does. Not. Compute...

 

[Eisenh0rn]

I can only follow the prospects by listening to the so called experts.

 

[BlueBaron]

The team that won a cup with a peak Anze Kopitar that could skate through a defense at will? Notice how anyone he played with suddenly woke up in the playoffs?

Doughty was better this year than he was last year.
Kopitar was far worse.

I wonder why they missed the playoffs.

I am willing to agree that Kopitar's play impacts them hugely, but that +/- you have illustrated works with a constant Doughty presence within it. You need both, great Defensemen and Forwards (centers in particular) , having Hanifin and Rielly is not going to hinder us. I see the appeal of Strome, and am less sold on Marner but I also think we might want to be prepared for drafting the BPA and that could be Hanifin. It would also free up Gardiner to trade for a forward.

 

[LeafsFan97]

Yes cause David Clarkson had junior careers like Strome or Marner and was ever considered to be a top 3 pick in a draft.

My point is that when they brought in Clarkson, many mentioned the fact that he was a hometown guy as a huge plus. When he arrived he was rather disappointing.

 

[cdasman04]

There is no case.

Everyone that wants us to take him at 4 are just man crushing him big time.

You NEED size in today's NHL. Strome has been a beast all season long And Hanifin has been ranked #3 all season for a reason Because he's been compared to the vision of Niedermayer and the hockey IQ and talent of Lidstrom.

Shanny, Dubas and company are morons if they take Marner over either one of those 2 guys.

Its funny how the guys around here with the most matter of fact opinions are the ones who have clearly never seen either guy play.

You are way overrating Hanifin dropping those names, and from an OHL season ticket holder... Marner is special. If Strome is gone, I have little doubt they will take a swing for the fence on the high upside forward. It has much more boom potential for the long run. Not to mention the Hunter connection.

If you have it in your head Hanifin deserves to be talked about in the breath of two hall of famers, you are going to be disappointed. He is a very good, but very safe prospect.

 

[Bernier the Boats]

Its funny how the guys around here with the most matter of fact opinions are the ones who have clearly never seen either guy play.

You are way overrating Hanifin dropping those names, and from an OHL season ticket holder... Marner is special. If Strome is gone, I have little doubt they will take a swing for the fence on the high upside forward. It has much more boom potential for the long run. Not to mention the Hunter connection.

If you have it in your head Hanifin deserves to be talked about in the breath of two hall of famers, you are going to be disappointed. He is a very good, but very safe prospect.

I agree with this statement. The people comparing Hanifin to Lidstrom or Doughty or whoever have never ever seen him play. The comparisons he gets are McDonagh, Bouwmeester, the occasional Suter. I've caught 3 BU games and watched all his WJC games, but if you've never seen Hanifin play (like most people thinking he's Doughty), check this video out.


Big, amazing mobility, solid first pass. Gets back in transition. Not anything like Doughty though. He's not flashy, he doesn't take risks. His game is like a sequence of simple plays strung together. Makes very few mistakes, but if you're expecting a HOF player I would temper those expectations.

 

[burpsalot]

Can somebody please explain the case against Mitch Marner? For the life of me, I don't understand how he can be ranked #5.

Because of comments like this.

You NEED size in today's NHL. Strome has been a beast all season long And Hanifin has been ranked #3 all season for a reason Because he's been compared to the vision of Niedermayer and the hockey I and talent of Lidstrom.

The reason why is size. When he was drafted into the OHL he was 5'7.5" & 130 Lbs . So he has the reputation as being small. NHL Central scouting, whose job is to check the size of prospects to a 1/4 inch has listed him as 5'11" & 160 Lbs.

But what is the reoccuring comment? "He's small"

He's not small, he has descent height. His brother is 6'3" & he grew 6 inches from age 16-19. Hopefully Mitch has a few more inches to grow & he will have to bulk up, but he is still only 17.

Of the top 5 players I think Marner has the most upside & he was still #2 in scoring.

 

[BlueBaron]

Its funny how the guys around here with the most matter of fact opinions are the ones who have clearly never seen either guy play.

You are way overrating Hanifin dropping those names, and from an OHL season ticket holder... Marner is special. If Strome is gone, I have little doubt they will take a swing for the fence on the high upside forward. It has much more boom potential for the long run. Not to mention the Hunter connection.

If you have it in your head Hanifin deserves to be talked about in the breath of two hall of famers, you are going to be disappointed. He is a very good, but very safe prospect.

I suppose we must conclude you have not seen them either

 

[mikeyz]

have so little offensive prospects on the way, especially at centre.

Nylander?

 

[cdasman04]

I suppose we must conclude you have not seen them either

Im not running around saying Hanifin is the next Doughty, Lidstrom or Niedermayer though am I? Im not even comparing Marner to anyone...

My opinion is what it is, yes Ive seen Marner more. But comments about his size etc just show people are only reading scout lists and not watching for themselves.

He ran the Knights this year, and was much more impressive than everyones World Junior crush Domi all season long.

I just dont see how the Leafs dont swing for the fence. Theres a lot more room there with a forward like that then saying that a safe dman is going to become a hall of fame type.

 

[Shwaguy*]

Man I would love to draft Hanifin and have him be our Niedermayer.

I would also love the draft Marner and have him be our Dougie though.

 

[WillNyeTheHockeyGuy]

Im not running around saying Hanifin is the next Doughty, Lidstrom or Niedermayer though am I? Im not even comparing Marner to anyone...

My opinion is what it is, yes Ive seen Marner more. But comments about his size etc just show people are only reading scout lists and not watching for themselves.

He ran the Knights this year, and was much more impressive than everyones World Junior crush Domi all season long.

I just dont see how the Leafs dont swing for the fence. Theres a lot more room there with a forward like that then saying that a safe dman is going to become a hall of fame type.

Funniest thing is that Domi actually dragged Marner down when they played together. I'm of the firm belief that Marner is the best player in the draft outside the top 2.

 

[carko32]

The team that won a cup with a peak Anze Kopitar that could skate through a defense at will? Notice how anyone he played with suddenly woke up in the playoffs?

Doughty was better this year than he was last year.
Kopitar was far worse.

I wonder why they missed the playoffs.

Kopitar had his usual number of assists, but he shot at half rate of his normal shots. That was a difference, plus that other players were ****. Kopitar was 10 points or 15 lower than usually, but he was still their best player.

But they had problems with Brown, Williams, Richards, so they had only 3 guys that could score, Kopitar, Gaborik and Carter. Well, also Toffoli, but that's now enough.

And I agree, we should take Marner and pick any other Dman with other picks. If they both reach their potential, than we'll look like fools, but at the moment we need strenght upfront even more than in the back. Plus, you can also score with Dmen ranked lower, even in 2nd round. Roy, Juulsen can be really good defenders, hopefully they can surprise and we look like genius for picking one of them.

 

[socko]

Funniest thing is that Domi actually dragged Marner down when they played together. I'm of the firm belief that Marner is the best player in the draft outside the top 2.

Skill wise I think he is, but I can already predict that the fanbase is going to go all chuck norris on Shanahan when he ices yet another small highly skilled winger team that doesn't win enough.

 

[Shwaguy*]

Skill wise I think he is, but I can already predict that the fanbase is going to go all chuck norris on Shanahan when he ices yet another small highly skilled winger team that doesn't win enough.

Good thing Marner is a centre.

 

[socko]

Good thing Marner is a centre.

Well, he is my second pick. But I want Hanifin if he is there. He is just a superb skater and just so positionally sound. I don't think the Leafs have had anyone as good as him on defense since I've been a fan in the mid 80s. It's pathetic that most people think Kaberle is our best defenseman in that time. I played hockey most of my adult life and people often told me that I resembled Ray Sheppard. So I have an affinity for guys that can skate as I never could and you realize how limiting it is. I would usually be among the team leaders in scoring but I knew deep down that I wasn't that good because I couldn't keep up with other players.

 

[613Leafer]

Skill wise I think he is, but I can already predict that the fanbase is going to go all chuck norris on Shanahan when he ices yet another small highly skilled winger team that doesn't win enough.

Our issue hasnt been size, its been lack of responsible two-way skilled players. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Giroux, Pavelski, Johnson, etc, none of these guys struggle to play big minutes on winning teams, or even carry their lines at times both offensively and defensively. All are under 6'0 and smaller than Kessel/JVR.

 

[Fantomas]

Hanifan without hesitation

You jokers can't even spell his name. And yet "without hesitation."

 

[Babcocks Marner]

Really wish I got too see more of Hanifin. His videos are few and far in-between.

From what I have seen and read about him, he is more of a shut down dman. So I think that would be huge asset for Rielly. Allows him to step up his offensive game without worry on the back end.

Marner is a beast, I think he will be a NHL beast. Strome as well, but imo I think Marner will have better NHL numbers. (IF he stays healthy of course)

I would take any of the 3, and only hindsight will be the tell all truth.

I will be happy with what Hunter picks. If they go for one over another, I will trust that judgement.

 

[Glenn Isildur Healy]

I have a feeling it will be Barzal. Fans will be shocked at first because everyone expects it to be either Marner, Strome or Hanifan.

Then fans will start doing more research on Barzal and realize this is a great pick. This reminds me of the Leafs taking Rielly and not many seeing it coming. Most expected Forsberg or even Grigorenko

 

[eddieO]

LOL @ people scouting guys on what they saw at WJC. The truth is nobody here is a scout and has the data available to assess players correctly. Hanifin has been the #3 consistently throughout. One scout said if this were any other draft he would be the first overall. I trust that judgement more than people here who have seen one YouTube video (yeah, also of the WJC) and label him "safe". And even if he is, why is that a bad thing? He's a DMAN! I want a guy with good IQ back there making the right plays. We have Rielly for an offensive spark. Hanifin is exactly what we need.

I like Marner and Strome but no way I take either over Hanifin if he's available.

 

[Fantomas]

Would people be happy if Hanifin turned out to be another Seth Jones?

What Mitchell Marner becomes Sean Monahan? For comparison's sake.

 

[Trapper]

LOL @ people scouting guys on what they saw at WJC. The truth is nobody here is a scout and has the data available to assess players correctly. Hanifin has been the #3 consistently throughout. One scout said if this were any other draft he would be the first overall. I trust that judgement more than people here who have seen one YouTube video (yeah, also of the WJC) and label him "safe". And even if he is, why is that a bad thing? He's a DMAN! I want a guy with good IQ back there making the right plays. We have Rielly for an offensive spark. Hanifin is exactly what we need.

I like Marner and Strome but no way I take either over Hanifin if he's available.

No worries. Around here whoever we draft will become the best of the 3. So just choose one.
This team needs about 10 more solid picks.

 

[WillNyeTheHockeyGuy]

I have a feeling it will be Barzal. Fans will be shocked at first because everyone expects it to be either Marner, Strome or Hanifan.

Then fans will start doing more research on Barzal and realize this is a great pick. This reminds me of the Leafs taking Rielly and not many seeing it coming. Most expected Forsberg or even Grigorenko

I don't think Barzal should be up that high, but he's a top 10 for sure. That and Mark Hunter's an OHL expert, I think there will still be a slight bias for Strome/Marner over Barzal, warranted or not.

 

[Commander Clueless]

Honestly, either or. We need both pretty badly.

Still a chance Strome falls, too. I think the safe prediction is Arizona takes him, but would anyone be surprised to see them double dip from the Knights? Hanifin, too....Arizona has OEL who is better than anything we've got right now, but they also need defense.