MAPLE LEAFS DRAFT MARNER 4TH OVERALL
On Friday evening just 35 minutes into the 2015 NHL Entry Draft at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida London Knights leading scorer Mitchell Marner was selected 4th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In his draft eligible season, the Knights #93 finished second in League scoring, just 3 points behind Erie’s Dylan Strome, and ranked top 10 in the OHL in goals, assists, power play goals, power play assists and insurance goals. He tallied 44 goals and 126 points while leading the Knights in the plus/minus column maintaining a +36 in 63 games. Marner recorded a 16 game point streak totaling 44 points from October 24th to November 30th during which he won both the OHL and CHL Player of the Week twice for the week of October 27th-November 2nd and again November 17th-24th. Marner was also named OHL Player of the Week for a third time from February 16th-22nd, OHL Player of the Month for November, Ryobi’s Hardest Working Forward for November and was voted Smartest Player in the Western Conference in the 2015 OHL Coaches Poll. The second-year Knight was also the recipient of the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy awarded to the right-winger with the most points in the OHL. At the London Knights end of season award ceremony, Marner captured the Play-Off Performer award and was named co-MVP with captain Max Domi.
TSN’s Craig Button describes Marner as having “exceptional creativity with poise and passing skills that allow him to create offence quickly. He’s elusive and very hard to keep in check because he is constantly in motion. He plays the game in the moment and is quickly responding to opportunity. He is the best winger in the draft.” Button also compares Marner to 2015 Stanley Cup Champion Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Marner was the Knights 1st round pick, 19th overall, in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection coming from the Don Mills Flyers. The Thornhill, Ontario native has collected 57 goals and 185 points in 123 games played as a London Knight helping the team accomplish two 40+ wins seasons. Mark Hunter phoned Mitch Marner on that Saturday, April 6, 2013 prior to London’s 19th overall pick informing the speedy forward that he will become a London Knight. After two seasons under Hunter management, a Memorial Cup appearance, and a 100+point season, Marner will reunite with Mark Hunter as he joins the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.
Congratulations Mitch!
Stay tuned as the NHL Draft continues Saturday, June 27th at 10 am with more London Knights hoping to get their names called and their dreams come true.
