Prospect Info: Mitch Marner (continued)

[91Kadri91*]

Marner definitely won't be going to Europe to play next year. He plays for the Hunters either in Toronto or London. If he's ready and earns a spot it will be with the Leafs. If not it's back to the Knights for a 4th season just like Domi did. If that happens it's not a disaster as everyone is saying.

Can be people stop referencing Domi when the topic at hand pertains to Marner's future? Marner (easily) outscored Domi last season, and he's two years younger. Domi's current success is buoyed by an unsustainable PSh (24.32; 3rd in the NHL) and PDO (104.31; 29th in the NHL). His possession metrics are also terrible: his CFRel is -4.85 (330 of 368), his SCFRel is -2.61 (273 of 368) and his FFRel is -3.71 (309 of 368).

Marner's a better prospect.

He's still not playing centre and needs to go through a full season at that position. He needs to get better and stronger at faceoff draws and defensive responsibilities that come with playing centre.

Marner does take on those responsibilities. He's regularly the first one back, playing below the hashmarks, and assuming the role of 'centerman' defensively.

Remember Doug Gilmour was known as a defensive specialist in the NHL before his time with the Leafs. Marner is only 18 so he's still very young and fragile. He was injured twice last year and if he's not ready then he'll definitely return to the Knights. The Leafs are not going to take any risks.

He missed a total of 7-and-a-half games last season, and he hasn't missed a single one (due to injury) this season.

 

[champs*]

Why are you so deadset on sending him back to Junior?

If Marner earns a spot he will be on team. Simple as that. You dont sent someone this good down just because you want him playing centre in Junior. That is not a valid reason for sending him back down.

I believe he will earn a spot and stay with team

I wish marner was on the leafs this year!! I am blown away by his skills. I am just keeping it real is all

 

[Community]

so what happens if the leafs keep marner just because he is to good for junior. Then he struggles with the leafs and babcock starts with the healthy scratches... now what?

You're right... Then his rookie season would be a disaster, just like Rielly's rookie season was.

Nothing wrong with a rookie being the healthy scratch every once in a while. As long as he doesn't consistently sit for 5+ games (which Marner won't, especially considering the "talent" level we currently have will only get worse by the start of next year).

 

[MMMFAN]

Do we all agree Marner wasn't good enough at Leaf camp this year? So three months later we are now anointing him as a sure thing to make it next year? The Leafs have stated they prefer to keep kids developing until they are 100% ready for the NHL.

 

[mikebel111*]

I wish marner was on the leafs this year!! I am blown away by his skills. I am just keeping it real is all

Thats fine. It should be really the same way

If Marner earns a spot than he will be on team. If he doesnt, than send him back

 

[MMMFAN]

Thats fine. It should be really the same way

If Marner earns a spot than he will be on team. If he doesnt, than send him back

Exactly.

 

[ACC1224]

Do we all agree Marner wasn't good enough at Leaf camp this year? So three months later we are now anointing him as a sure thing to make it next year? The Leafs have stated they prefer to keep kids developing until they are 100% ready for the NHL.

He knew going in he wasn't making the team and he played like it.

 

[Knightnight]

Do we all agree Marner wasn't good enough at Leaf camp this year? So three months later we are now anointing him as a sure thing to make it next year? The Leafs have stated they prefer to keep kids developing until they are 100% ready for the NHL.

He was NEVER given a chance to be good enough this year. Even as good as Nylander WAS, where is he playing? EVERY other top prospect in EVERY organization were put with quality NHL line mates and were put in a position to succeed.
Strome with Doan
McDavid with Hall
Eichel with Kane and
Marner with AHL guys

Hell even Nylander the year before got shifts with Kessel and JVR.

Marner was never given a sniff of a chance this year. People need to open there eyes. Find it funny people bring up rookie tournament like he was awful. In his second game as he got adjusted he was second star with 1g 1a behind Sparks.

In Montreal he faced Price in the first half of game and had a few quality chances. Against Buffalo he and Brown were the 2 top forwards. If you give him 8 or 9 games with quality line mates the results would have been vastly different.

 

[RoyalGremlin]

He knew going in he wasn't making the team and he played like it.

That's garbage.

As if a player of Marner's competitive fire would not try his best at his first NHL camp.

 

[ACC1224]

That's garbage.

As if a player of Marner's competitive fire would not try his best at his first NHL camp.

Never said he didn't try his best. He was disappointed and wasn't put into a position to succeed. He was going back to London before Camp started.

 

[RoadWarrior]

Do we all agree Marner wasn't good enough at Leaf camp this year? So three months later we are now anointing him as a sure thing to make it next year? The Leafs have stated they prefer to keep kids developing until they are 100% ready for the NHL.

I agree that Marner failed to met expectations in camp but I think it had more to do with the mental aspect of the game than anything physical.

Marner looked kind of like a fish out of water playing against bigger mature men. At one point Babcock said something like " he needs to want the puck more". More or less saying Marner looked timid and nervous, which I think was an accurate assessment.

Of course the best way for Marner to get over this issue would be begin a serious strength training program and to play him against men in the AHL but since that option isn't available he should be playing with the leafs in a limited role.

The bottom line is that after the world juniors he's wasting his time in junior hockey.

 

[Community]

Never said he didn't try his best. He was disappointed and was put into a position to succeed. He was going back to London before Camp started.

How was he put into a position to succeed?

I'm a big fan of Marner, but I realize that he needed to go back to London this year.

However, I think it's pretty obvious that he wasn't put in a situation to succeed. Same with the rookie tournament, he got tremendously better the more games he played. His game against Pittsburgh (the last or 2nd last game, I can't remember), was by far his best game (he was one of the stars of the game, despite Nylander getting all the press for his wicked snipe).

If Marner was put in a situation to succeed, he would have been playing top 6 minutes for the Leafs regularly with at least one top 6 forward (JVR or Kadri). In addition, he'd get the 9 games to start the season. While I think it was the right choice to send him back, management clearly wasn't putting him in a situation to succeed and force their hand by keeping him in the NHL.

 

[ACC1224]

How was he put into a position to succeed?

I'm a big fan of Marner, but I realize that he needed to go back to London this year.

However, I think it's pretty obvious that he wasn't put in a situation to succeed. Same with the rookie tournament, he got tremendously better the more games he played. His game against Pittsburgh (the last or 2nd last game, I can't remember), was by far his best game (he was one of the stars of the game, despite Nylander getting all the press for his wicked snipe).

If Marner was put in a situation to succeed, he would have been playing top 6 minutes for the Leafs regularly with at least one top 6 forward (JVR or Kadri). In addition, he'd get the 9 games to start the season. While I think it was the right choice to send him back, management clearly wasn't putting him in a situation to succeed and force their hand by keeping him in the NHL.

Typo, was should have been wasn't.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

I wish marner was on the leafs this year!! I am blown away by his skills. I am just keeping it real is all

Its actually pretty unrealistic to send a prospect like Marner back to junior for a 4th season.

 

[champs*]

Its actually pretty unrealistic to send a prospect like Marner back to junior for a 4th season.

I cant wait for marner to play for the leafs!! I cant wait to see him and willie up!!

Remember marner has no experience playing with babcocks systems. We all know he wants his players coming up through the marlies with knowledge of his systems. Do you think babcock cares if marner plays next year or the year after? I dont think he cares ... im just saying

 

[Duke Silver]

Do we all agree Marner wasn't good enough at Leaf camp this year? So three months later we are now anointing him as a sure thing to make it next year? The Leafs have stated they prefer to keep kids developing until they are 100% ready for the NHL.

If the Leafs could put Marner in the AHL next year, they would.

But they can't.

So rather than send him back for a fourth year in the OHL, he'll likely make the Leafs and be brought along slowly by Babcock. Wouldn't be surprised to see him in the press box for much of the first two months.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

I cant wait for marner to play for the leafs!! I cant wait to see him and willie up!!

Remember marner has no experience playing with babcocks systems. We all know he wants his players coming up through the marlies with knowledge of his systems. Do you think babcock cares if marner plays next year or the year after? I dont think he cares ... im just saying

As true as that is Babcock isn't going to turn away talent just because they don't know the system. Does Babcock send a guy like McDavid down to juniors then to the AHL just so he can learn the system? I personally don't think so. Now Marner isn't McDavid , but ever since his slow start he's been scoring like McDavid. Add that Marner is as resposible as any forward in his own end and it becomes very clear that the OHL just doesn't seem like a good development option for him.

 

[crump]

He'll be a year older, there is usually a big difference between 18 and 19. More bulk, muscle, height experience etc. It's enough, I think, to make him more up to NHL speed and physical demands next camp. We will see a big difference. Brown isnt the same prospect potential, but has (had) a similar body size, he grew a lot and looked more ready this year. He was one of the best young guys at camp.

 

[mikebel111*]

Also people need to get rid of the idea players cant develop in the NHL.
in Marners case they can as he is too good for junior but cant go to the AHL. So developing him in the NHL next season is fine if he earns it

 

[animalanimal]

i hadn't realized dvorak and tkachuk didn't go to the wjc camp yet, only marner. they're playing today. so that'll give them the advantage in the scoring race.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

i hadn't realized dvorak and tkachuk didn't go to the wjc camp yet, only marner. they're playing today. so that'll give them the advantage in the scoring race.

Yea weird how USA hasn't started their camp yet.

 

[burpsalot]

The chances Marner would have made the Leafs this year were slim to none. Everybody knew it.

The chances Marner is sent back to the Knights next year is probably the same.

He has shown he is above the level of 99% of junior players.

Babcock will probably give him a little rope, sees where he goes with it. If he takes off, Babcock will just keep giving him more rope. If need be he will reel him in & let him catch up to that level before giving him more slack once again.

He'll potentially have a 15 year career, the transition from Junior to NHL will take as long as Marner needs but if it means taking the first 20-40-60 games slowly, that's okay.

 

[mikebel111*]

London is winning 5-0

Was Marner holding London back

 

[Leafs at Knight]

London is winning 5-0

Was Marner holding London back

6-0 now.

Colts goalie is playing his 3rd game ever lol, no Blackwood.

 

[91Kadri91*]

London is winning 5-0

Was Marner holding London back

This is basically Barrie's 'B' squad; they're missing Blackwood (their elite, #1 goaltender) and their three highest scorers (Labanc, Mangiapane and Nättinen).