Maple Leafs select Mitch Marner 4th overall in NHL Draft
Tap here to view theScore's NHL draft tracker, which includes the 2015 draft results, the latest transactions, and rumors.
The Toronto Maple Leafs selected London Knights forward Mitch Marner with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.
Marner is a key addition to the Maple Leafs' plans for the future, joining 2014 first-round pick William Nylander and defenseman Morgan Rielly as bright young building blocks.
2014-15 Stats
| Team | GP | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Knights | 63 | 44 | 82 | 126 | 53 |
Overview
The latest offensive dynamo from the factory in London, Marner is likely the purest point producer after Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, having recorded an even two points per game in his draft season.
He oozes skill, elusiveness, and flash, and his greatest highlights seem to be when using his vision to whip the puck through windows to teammates. He's small, and probably doesn't have the defensive prowess as the centers in lottery positions - having spent much of the season on the wing - but is said to have improved in that department.
Marner looks like a cross between Patrick Kane and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, but would be hard-pressed to attain Kane-like stardom, or survive at center in the league. That said, he's a predator in the attacking zone and would complement a legitimate No. 1 center beautifully.
What the scouts are saying
TSN's Craig Button provided a tasty NHL comparison:
I call him the Erik Karlsson of forwards. That's the type of player he is. He's elusive. I say this about Erik Karlsson. How can you stop him and defend against him when he doesn't even know what he's going to do? How can you know what he's going to do? That, to me, is Mitch Marner.
ESPN's Corey Pronman (Insider only) explained why he would lean towards Mitch Marner over fellow expected top-five pick Dylan Strome:
The skating difference is really what sways me, even with the size discrepancy, given their puck skills are close and Marner has shown he can defend. Skating kills in the NHL, in terms of being able to gain the zone with control of the puck, and Marner is ahead there.
Highlight