Let's just not have this thread become yet another lesson on the laws of physics.
If you read carefully, there's only 1 or 2 posters jumping on him for his performance at said showcase. Most everyone else has stated numerous times...it was only 2 games, played at the beginning of Aug, and the whole team stunk.
I don't know where you got the idea that everyone here is turning on Marner.
The debate about Marner's size and strength is going to continue until he proves he can play in the NHL.
However I'm not convinced leaf fans will be patient enough to give him a chance to develop particularly when they have him ranked as a top 3 prospect in the league.
Thankfully I think leafs management will learn from the Drouin situation in Tampa and handle him properly.
This was the best under 20 players from Canada, USA, Sweden and Finland all auditioning for their chances to represent their countries at the upcoming WJC in 2017. Over 50 players playing in this event were either former 1st or 2nd round picks in recent NHL drafts including Marner taken #4 overall among the highest drafted and Canada had 18 former 1st round picks themselves.
I think this should be viewed as a missed opportunity by Marner to help solidify in Leafs management minds that he has nothing left to prove as a junior player or nothing left to learn at this level when viewed against top level competition.
The NHL is major step up this level of elite junior player so ideally Marner dominating this event would have gone a long way to confirm he should be trying to make NHL now and not returning to WJC tournament in December.
Timeline for Marner.
OHL----> WJC Showcase ---> Leafs rookie tournament ---> Leafs training camp/exhibition season --->NHL 9 game tryout ----> NHL ready
Marner wasn't auditioning.
More realistically this was a mid summer skate that will have zero bearing on whether he makes the Leafs or not.
Marner wasn't auditioning.
More realistically this was a mid summer skate that will have zero bearing on whether he makes the Leafs or not.
Lou Lam, Babcock, Hunter, Dubas and others from Leafs management all showed up in person to take in this event evaluating Leafs prospects including Marner.
Seems like a lot of Leafs brain trust all traveling to Plymouth, Michigan during the summer taking in a 2 week mean nothing event.
Every team in fact had major management in attendance evaluating their own prospects against top level junior competition.
There is no debate, unless you think 18 year old don't grow.
I would echo Shanahan's view on Leafs fans patience levels and call that a total cop out. Not only are we patient enough we've been dying for it.
Depends how one views him I guess, people are excited about him based on a lot of different factors including his play and expert opinions around the league. You clearly stated you expect him to settle in as a PP specialist in 2020. We disagree I guess, this will be a fun thread to look back on in 2020.
The debate about Marner's size and strength is going to continue until he proves he can play in the NHL.
However I'm not convinced leaf fans will be patient enough to give him a chance to develop particularly when they have him ranked as a top 3 prospect in the league.
Thankfully I think leafs management will learn from the Drouin situation in Tampa and handle him properly.
Marner's 19 (shockingly even our prospects age) and most 18 year old are finished growing , sure they'll fill out but as far as height goes most are finished growing .
Most 18-19 year olds have also started shaving.
Marner's 19 (shockingly even our prospects age) and most 18 year old are finished growing , sure they'll fill out but as far as height goes most are finished growing .
Most 18-19 year olds have also started shaving.
That's a good point as Mitch doesn't need to grow any taller than he is.
So unless you think our 19 year old top prospect will never fill out, there is no debate. Well expect on HF.