Sundinisagod said:It's not a foregone conclusion that he'll make the NHL the next year. He'll be too good for junior, but maybe not physically mature enough for the big show, and with Babcock as coach the tendency has been to give prospects extra time to develop.
The thing is he will be WAY too good for junior. He will be in the NHL in 2016-2017. I expect him to be in the top six, but if not, he could be in a situation similar to Jonathan Drouin, or even Morgan Rielly in his rookie year. Playing very sheltered minutes and learning the pro game.
Marner put up 120 points in the OHL as a 17 year old 160lbs player. If he's playing in the OHL for his 19 year old season, you'd expect him to be 180lbs by then. He would be completely dominant and way too good for the league.
I think its silly to think Marner would be back in the OHL for his +2 draft season. It doesn't happen often where top 5 picks stay 2 years in juniors after being drafted.
Since 2006, here is every forward picked top 7 in their draft who played 2 seasons of junior after being drafted. I used top 7 as some leeway due to how different each draft calibre is:
JVR - 2 years of NCAA
Huberdeau - 2 years of QMJHL (lockout year, joined Florida when lockout ended, so basically just 1 year of QMJHL).
Ryan Strome - 2 years of OHL (lockout year as well, but he played most of season in OHL)
And then you have the 2014 draft, which is too early to tell. Reinhart + Draisaitl have late birthdays so they are AHL eligible this year. Dal Colle could go back to juniors. Virtanen is apparently going to make the Canucks (although he prob shouldn't).
So that gives us
Ryan Strome
Michael Dal Colle (could be in NHL this year, so only 1 extra year of junior)
Jake Virtanen (could be in NHL this year, so only 1 extra year of junior)
as the only forwards picked in the top 7 since 2006 to play 2 seasons of junior after being drafted.
You're basically banking on him to gain 20lbs in just over a year. I don't know how Nylander did it, but most don't gain like that, that's why I said he might not be physically mature enough...what if he gains only 5 lbs in that time frame? Do you see him making the NHL as a 165lb 19 year old?
I wonder how many of those top 7 picks that did make the NHL within 2 years, were 160 pounders? Probably too small of a sample size, because not a lot of guys that small go that high...unless you're really special, which Marner is.
Then there is the Babcock factor, which I think you're underestimating in this equation (no offense intended), he is notorious for letting prospects develop extra long...granted he probably hasn't had a lot of top 5 picks to develop either.
Personally, I'm not even saying that he will or won't make the club in his +2 draft year, I'm just saying it could really go either way.
I don't know that he'll necessarily gain 20 pounds, but he is definitely going to get stronger. A big emphasis during Leafs prospect camp this past season was on teaching guys to care of your body like a pro, off-ice devotion, and Mitch Marner isn't stupid, he knows size and strength are his biggest obstacles in achieving his boyhood dream. He also knows that the organization will have close eyes on him in London (closer than most teams with their high draft picks thanks to the Hunter connection), you best believe the kid is going to be working his ass off off the ice.You're basically banking on him to gain 20lbs in just over a year. I don't know how Nylander did it, but most don't gain like that, that's why I said he might not be physically mature enough...what if he gains only 5 lbs in that time frame? Do you see him making the NHL as a 165lb 19 year old?
I wonder how many of those top 7 picks that did make the NHL within 2 years, were 160 pounders? Probably too small of a sample size, because not a lot of guys that small go that high...unless you're really special, which Marner is.
Then there is the Babcock factor, which I think you're underestimating in this equation (no offense intended), he is notorious for letting prospects develop extra long...granted he probably hasn't had a lot of top 5 picks to develop either.
Personally, I'm not even saying that he will or won't make the club in his +2 draft year, I'm just saying it could really go either way.
Patrick Kane was 160lbs in his rookie year. Off the top of my head.
Yeah, I find it hard to see him doing more than one more year in the OHL. Giving him a year at center and a chance to get stronger makes a lot of sense for this season. That's good and fine, but I think it'd be a lot harder to really send him down after that point.I don't know that he'll necessarily gain 20 pounds, but he is definitely going to get stronger. A big emphasis during Leafs prospect camp this past season was on teaching guys to care of your body like a pro, off-ice devotion, and Mitch Marner isn't stupid, he knows size and strength are his biggest obstacles in achieving his boyhood dream. He also knows that the organization will have close eyes on him in London (closer than most teams with their high draft picks thanks to the Hunter connection), you best believe the kid is going to be working his ass off off the ice.
He's already stupid good at the CHL level, if he is better next year than he'll definitely be too good for junior the year after that. I think Nylander and Marner are going to debut together in 2016-17.
I can't really see any scenario where he makes the team out of camp. I think the Leafs like the option of sending him back to London for a year too much. Get so many benefits with them having good ties to that team so they can get him developing as a center for the whole year, lets him get stronger, and lets them continue the focus of not rushing things.If Marner impresses in training camp and does admirably during his 9 game tryout, would TML keep him up all year, or is he bound for Juniors no matter what?
Patrick Kane was 160lbs in his rookie year. Off the top of my head.
I don't think Mitch Marner is expected to be a 1C this season.Patrik Kane was not expected to be a 1C like Marner is supposed to be.
Patrik Kane was not expected to be a 1C like Marner is supposed to be.
Wow we are still talking about weight and height?
He is never going to be 6'2 210 pounds, celebrate Marner for what he is. In face, I am not even sure adding weight would benefit Marner.
Would love to see Marner play center full time in the OHL this year before making the jump to the big club next year.
Yea, his size should really not even be a discussion point. Again, if Johnny Gaudreau can do what he's done at his size, I have zero concerns over Marner's size.
Haven't we learned that height is the most overrated thing in the league by now? Mariner is going to be a stud.