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Carl Maloney The Hockey Writers

Published on Friday, May 15, 2015

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Mitch Marner – The Next Ones: 2015 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Mitch Marner THW Close-Up:

Team:  London Knights (OHL)

Birthdate: May 5, 1997

Hometown: Thornhill, ON

Height: 5’11”  Weight: 160lbs

Position: Right Wing

Shoots: Right

Twitter: @marner93

NHL Draft Eligibility: 2015 first year eligible

Mitch Marner, OHL, Hockey, London Knights

Mitch Marner is a magician with the puck and smart without it. (Photo: OHL Images)

THW Ranking: 5th

Other Rankings:

NHL CS (North America) – 6th

ISS – 6th

TSN – 5th

Craig’s List (Craig Button) – 4th

The Hockey News – 5th

***

Marner the Magic Man

There is not another player in this year’s draft that brings the type of dynamic, game-breaking offensive ability to the table than Marner, unless his name is Connor McDavid.

The OHL’s scoring leader for the majority of the year and caught only on the season’s final game by McDavid’s teammate Dylan Strome.

Marner is the classic debate of elite offensive ability vs diminutive size, and the inevitable questions of whether he can compete at the pro level. For proof that he can only has to look to a number of players, but specifically another former London Knight in Chicago’s Patrick Kane, whom Marner has been compared to.

Marner may not have the NHL upside that Kane does, but based on the way he has blistered his way through OHL competition, averaging two points per game, there’s no reason to think he won’t put up numbers in any pro league he plays in.

He has the complete tool set in hands, shot, quickness and acceleration, not to mention an exceptional on-ice awareness. He also has a high compete level and a drive to win, a pre-requisite to play for the Hunters in London.

Scouts Honour:

“High end skill set with puck handling and playmaking ability. Plays bigger than his size and is not afraid to get involved in traffic or battle for pucks. He is an excellent skater with very good quickness and agility. He possesses some of the quickest hands in this year’s draft class.”

– Dan Marr, Chief Scout, NHL Central Scouting 

” In my opinion, next to McDavid, Marner has the best vision and creativity of anyone available in the draft. What separated Strome and Marner for me at number two was that Strome’s production slipped slightly with the absence of McDavid while Marner carried his Knights in the absence of Max Domi.”

– Dominic Tiano, OHL Writers

“Leading the OHL in scoring and looking like a human highlight reel most nights has him rising up my personal list. He has the elusiveness you want in a smaller dynamic scorer but this recent injury does provide evidence that he will always have a bit of risk factor to him as well.”

– Dan Stewart, Future Considerations

A dynamic offensive forward that backchecks hard and establishes his presence through playing smart, puck-possession hockey. A very quick skater gifted with great hands and hockey sense. Battles hard in all three zones and shows a willingness to do whatever it takes to get the puck to the back of the net; an unselfish player. Embodies the definition of a dynamic number-generating machine who makes the players around him better.

– Curtis Joe, Elite Prospects

 

Where He’ll End Up in June:

Marner will be a guarantee to go in the top ten and a good chance to be selected within the top five. The most likely scenario is going in the 4-6 range.

Statistics:

International Tournaments:

  • 2014 – Canada (Ontario) – U17 World Hockey Challenge
  • 2015 – Canada – U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial

NHL ETA:

  • 2 years

Risk/Reward Analysis:

  • Risk 2/5  Reward 5/5

NHL potential:

  • Elite scoring winger

Strengths:

  • Skating
  • Quickness
  • Stickhandling
  • Shot
  • Passing
  • Vision
  • Hockey IQ

Flaws/Aspects He Needs to Work On:

  • Strength
  • Defensive game

Fantasy Potential:

Offensive: 10/10

Defensive: 7/10

NHL Comparable:

Based on his stature and electrifying offensive ability, he has drawn comparisons to another former London Knight in Patrick Kane.

Video:

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THW’s The Next Ones prospect profile template design architect: Chris Ralph


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