Ht/Wt: 5’10″/164 lbs
Position: C
Team: London (OHL)
Marner is a supremely talented offensive player, who probably would have won the OHL scoring title if he played all 68 games. Marner finished second overall with 44 goals and 82 assists for 126 points in 63 games.
The knock on Marner is his size, at 5’11” he lacks the ideal size the other centers in the draft possess, but since he was drafted into the OHL he has gained an additional 5 inches and 30 pounds suggesting he may not be done growing.
Marners strengths are his offensive skills and his vision. He has the ability to read and react and see plays develop before they happen. Assets that lend to his natural playmaking abilities are his elite level vision, puck control, elusive skating ability and passing. Marner is also an underrated goal scorer despite having scored 44 goals. His shot is NHL caliber in that it is very accurate allowing him to score goals most players cannot.
Another asset to Marners game is his defensive inclination. The same vision that allows him to make dynamic offensive highlight reel type plays, also allows him to anticipate, read and react in the defensive zone, making him a threat in all three zones.
The player in the NHL Marner compares himself to is Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane. Both players are 5’11 and with some time and work Marner can close the gap on the weight difference of 17 pounds. It may take Marner a year or two to arrive in the NHL, but when he does he should be an offensive force for years to come.
Profile from: Peter Harling – Apr. 3rd
I liked Mitch Marner last year in London where he had 59 points in 63 games. His even strength points per sixty minutes (ES 60) of 3.1 were the best of the first year draft eligible players for 2015 in the CHL not named Connor McDavid who had 3.9. This year, he was, in my estimation, Canada’s best skater at the summer Ivan Hlinka tournament (seven points and a plus five rating in five games). What I particularly like about Mitch is that he is a complete player with size his only major shortcoming. Unfortunately, Mitch, like the rest of the London Knights, is off to a rather slow start (five points in nine games). I expect Mitch to pick it up substantially as the season moves on.
Profile from: Eldon MacDonald of The Hockey Writers – updated Oct. 19th
Combine skill, smarts and confidence and you have Mitch. Excellent playmaker who can make plays in and through the tightest of spaces. Very elusive with his skating but can attack & beat defenders 1-1. Sees plays unfolding and is very comfortable holding puck to allow them to develop. Plays with an assuredness that is threatening and he doesn’t take a ‘back seat’ in the game.
Analysis: Craig Button – TSNs Direct of Scouting – updated Sept. 25th
Smallish forward with a real scoring touch…scores in multiple ways…always in the right spot to receive a pass…a good wrist shot, and he plays with a lot of grit and isn’t afraid to crash the net for chances…has the hands and creativity to go end to end with the puck…speedy and very agile…excellent foot speed and quickness, and is tough to contain when he gets going; he can beat nearly anyone on the ice with his speed…impressive hand speed and creativity…sees the ice well and makes some really good passes…is a threat on each shift…work ethic and compete level are impressive…relentless pressure on the puck. (August 2014)