Prospect Info: Marner Magic about to take OHL by kNight -All purpose thread

[FrozenJagrt]

Some of the comments regarding Hanifin/Schenn give me a kick.

Schenn, at the time, was looked at as the epitome of what a shutdown defenseman should be. Big, strong, competitive and committed. Scouting reports suggested he had untapped offensive potential and enough mobility to recover from trouble.

People on sites like this one touted him as the next Scott Stevens or, if they were being "conservative", Adam Foote. Let's not act like expectations for him weren't every bit as high as they are for Hanifin.

Hell, I'd suggest they were higher given the Leafs traded up and drafted him, and of course Pierre McGuire has always been great at building a heck of a hype train for young players. Add to that Schenn's sensational play during the summit series, and I think most had very high hopes for him.

In topic, Marner is good.

 

[BigWilly]

I think Nylander will be a better point producer, but Marner is the kind of player that the city will fall in love with.

I predict:
Nylander becomes a 65-70 point center
Marner becomes a 60-65 point 2-way heart and soul winger

 

[Cor]

I feel like people are taking the Marner on the wing thing too seriously.

They don't want to throw him to the wolves, much like Nylander last year.

Marner will be playing center in London, and then next season he'll get games at center.

The outlook on him hasn't changed. He's a center, but management doesn't want to throw him against Tomas Plekanec, Datsyuk, Turris, ROR etc in his first NHL preseason.

 

[Duke16]

I think Nylander will be a better point producer, but Marner is the kind of player that the city will fall in love with.

I predict:
Nylander becomes a 65-70 point center
Marner becomes a 60-65 point 2-way heart and soul winger

this seems realistic, I'd like to say both would be PPG, but that's barely even a tghing anymore unless you win the scoring race.

 

[BigWilly]

I feel like people are taking the Marner on the wing thing too seriously.

They don't want to throw him to the wolves, much like Nylander last year.

Marner will be playing center in London, and then next season he'll get games at center.

The outlook on him hasn't changed. He's a center, but management doesn't want to throw him against Tomas Plekanec, Datsyuk, Turris, ROR etc in his first NHL preseason.

It's just my opinion that he isn't very natural there. I watched him quite a bit in the London playoffs and it seems like he is just so much better than (most of) the competition that he could have succeeded as a defenceman.

I think they'll give him a fair chance to prove he can play center, but at the end of the day it's very possible that he'll develop better as a winger. There also isn't as much pressure on the organization to produce a top flight center with Nylander coming through the system.

 

[Team Cozens]

It's just my opinion that he isn't very natural there. I watched him quite a bit in the London playoffs and it seems like he is just so much better than (most of) the competition that he could have succeeded as a defenceman.

I think they'll give him a fair chance to prove he can play center, but at the end of the day it's very possible that he'll develop better as a winger. There also isn't as much pressure on the organization to produce a top flight center with Nylander coming through the system.

The centre position will be much clearer after this season. Absolutely must get one of
those Top 3-4 picks. That is the goal.
Austin Matthews would instantly push Marner to the wing.

Stamkos - Nylander - *****
Marner - Matthews - *****



Look at the Sabres 2 Years ago with Mikhail Grigorenko as the future #1 Center.....
Reinhart & Eichel later and Grigorenko was flipped into ROR.

 

[Shwaguy*]

It's by no means an "Absolute Must" that we must get a top 4 pick in this draft. It'd be great to get one. But if you think our rebuild is completely relying on winning a draft lottery or finishing dead last you haven't been paying attention to the whole organizational overhaul.

We aren't gonna be good this year, but our future is not dependant on a top 3 pick. No way in hell. Our future is dependant on strong drafting no matter where we pick and top level player development

 

[Anthrax442]

So far I haven't seen anything special out of Marner

 

[HeroNtF]

he looked a lot more comfortable in second period.

 

[Menzinger]

Just because a player has better training camp/pre season post draft doesn't mean they'll be the better NHLer in a year or two.

Marner likely needs to be sent down for more development - particularly physically.

Edit:

Weird phone autocorrects

 

[Deez Nuts]

The difference in size between Nylander and Marner is quite noticeable in this video.

https://instagram.com/p/79GC2_of_p/

 

[Stephen]

The difference in size between Nylander and Marner is quite noticeable in this video.

https://instagram.com/p/79GC2_of_p/

Marner carries himself like everybody's little brother!

 

[Durrr]

It's honestly hilarious to see how the hype has died after camp and 1 preseason game for the kid. People really seem to be confusing talent with being NHL ready. Just because Eichel, Hanifin or even Strome make the jump a year earlier then him, doesn't even come close to meaning that they will be the better players.

The talent was always there with this kid, and I really don't think comparisons to the players drafted around him were really out of sorts (besides Mcdavid of course). Skill wise, this kid is going to be an elite player, he just really doesn't have the frame/body to play against grown men yet. It's not even like he's just skinny (ala RNH), he's also not the tallest guy, even if he's an average height.

This was ALWAYS the case with Marner, and everyone knew it. He's going to go back to junior and tear it up as a center, and come into camp next season ready to make the jump, hopefully an inch or two taller and 10 pounds heavier.

 

[CanadienShark]

I missed most of this game tonight. I'm curious as to how Toronto fans feel Marner played tonight. I don't think I once saw him in the 5ish minutes I caught. Nylander looked nice from the tiny viewing of mine. I just want to get insight from both Habs and Leafs fans.

 

[Durrr]

I missed most of this game tonight. I'm curious as to how Toronto fans feel Marner played tonight. I don't think I once saw him in the 5ish minutes I caught. Nylander looked nice from the tiny viewing of mine. I just want to get insight from both Habs and Leafs fans.

Hasn't really stood out yet. It's not a big deal but I can't wait to hear all the complaints from Leafs nation when he's the only top 5 pick not cracking an NHL roster

 

[fahad203]

It's honestly hilarious to see how the hype has died after camp and 1 preseason game for the kid. People really seem to be confusing talent with being NHL ready. Just because Eichel, Hanifin or even Strome make the jump a year earlier then him, doesn't even come close to meaning that they will be the better players.

The talent was always there with this kid, and I really don't think comparisons to the players drafted around him were really out of sorts (besides Mcdavid of course). Skill wise, this kid is going to be an elite player, he just really doesn't have the frame/body to play against grown men yet. It's not even like he's just skinny (ala RNH), he's also not the tallest guy, even if he's an average height.

This was ALWAYS the case with Marner, and everyone knew it. He's going to go back to junior and tear it up as a center, and come into camp next season ready to make the jump, hopefully an inch or two taller and 10 pounds heavier.

People seem to forget also that Nylander who everyone thinks will be better played in Mens' league with Sweden and already played 40 games in AHL

Marner is 18 played most of his life with boys. Give him few years, I have no doubt he'll be a star in this league. Playing your first NHL game as it is nerve wrecking and on top of that playing in Montreal with players who are 30 -40 pounds heavier than you.

Despite of that, he made a sweet pass to Nylander that was almost a goal, he had a solid chance himself on the pp that was almost a goal. Imagine when he does start put on some weight and gains experience

 

[CanadienShark]

Hasn't really stood out yet. It's not a big deal but I can't wait to hear all the complaints from Leafs nation when he's the only top 5 pick not cracking an NHL roster

Don't worry, it's easy to get caught up in hype early on - ex. read my posts and other Habs fan's posts on Galchenyuk in 2012. Marner is stupidly talented and he might not develop into the player Leafs fans want right away. Hell, it may not even be for a couple of years. He's going to be a good one though, no doubt in my mind. Has his talent level stuck out at least though? That's the big thing for me, at this stage. It's less their decision making or whether they really stand out at this point, it's more about whether or not they display a good attitude and higher talent level than their competition.

 

[FlareKnight]

In the end Marner will end up a really good player, it's just a case of time. I hope this camp will be a huge thing for him and set him up for an awesome season in London.

Didn't notice him too much, but it's not like I was focusing on him either. I can't wait to see how good he'll end up being.

Plus should be fun to see him in some more pre-season games.

 

[LV*]

Hasn't been playing too well in the preseason but thats no reason to hate on him. He'll be on the Knights and rip it all year + with TC, then next preseason he'll probably look like Nylander has been looking this year.

Its pretty surreal having two prospects with future star written all over them, this way neither of them is subjected to a lot of pressure

 

[RickyR]

No need to panic. He's young.

Remember how McDavid looked in the WJC 2 years ago: overwhelmed.

Give it a year and he will be ready to tear it up.

I agree with earlier comments that he appears to be a more natural winger to me. I think forcing him to be a center in the nhl is probably a bad idea.

 

[ErnieLeafs]

It's by no means an "Absolute Must" that we must get a top 4 pick in this draft. It'd be great to get one. But if you think our rebuild is completely relying on winning a draft lottery or finishing dead last you haven't been paying attention to the whole organizational overhaul.

We aren't gonna be good this year, but our future is not dependant on a top 3 pick. No way in hell. Our future is dependant on strong drafting no matter where we pick and top level player development

Give me Logan Brown, please and thank you. Adding a huge, skilled centre, along with a guy like the Goat as a huge defensive centre, is music to my ears.

 

[ErnieLeafs]

And on topic, Mitch is going to be a weapon. Whether or not he develops into a #1C, or if he slides out to be a #1W, I'm convinced he's going to be a big piece for this club going forward.

 

[HellasLEAF]

The thing about Marner for me is that he is noticeably out of his league strength wise right now.

He is nowhere near ready for the NHL.

Great hands, acceleration and awareness though.

I think it doesn't help that Nylander looks so good though lol. We all had Marner ahead of Nylander..

 

[ErnieLeafs]

The thing about Marner for me is that he is noticeably out of his league strength wise right now.

He is nowhere near ready for the NHL.

Great hands, acceleration and awareness though.

I think it doesn't help that Nylander looks so good though lol. We all had Marner ahead of Nylander..

Personally, I think Nylander is going to be the next great Swede in Toronto. Salming, Sundin, Nylander.

 

[Semantics]

The talent was always there with this kid, and I really don't think comparisons to the players drafted around him were really out of sorts (besides Mcdavid of course). Skill wise, this kid is going to be an elite player, he just really doesn't have the frame/body to play against grown men yet. It's not even like he's just skinny (ala RNH), he's also not the tallest guy, even if he's an average height.

This was ALWAYS the case with Marner, and everyone knew it. He's going to go back to junior and tear it up as a center, and come into camp next season ready to make the jump, hopefully an inch or two taller and 10 pounds heavier.

He was also playing on the RW, which means fewer touches than if he played at C, and on the PP his role is a bit different because Nylander is playing the left half wall, which is where Marner usually runs the PP from. He spent a lot of time hanging around by the front of the net, which obviously isn't the ideal spot for him. My expectations haven't changed at all - I think he's gonna be the best player on the team in a few years.

Not sure why people are saying he played poorly. He didn't carry the puck as much as Nylander, but he made smart plays with it every time he touched it, a couple fumbles aside, and was good positionally. If they replayed that game he could easily have had a point or two. And I think that's what you'll generally see from him during his adjustment period, remember that when Nylander first came into the AHL last year he wasn't exactly killing it right off the bat. Started at 0.5 ppg. This is a higher level and Marner's been just fine.