Everything Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in a fantastic position when it comes to young talent. No two names are more notable than Mitch Marner drafted 4th overall in 2015 and Auston Matthews drafted 1st overall in 2016. With a Canada day announcement that these two plan on training together over the summer. I figured I would inspire some future Stanley cup parade dreams by getting Leafs nation excited about our youth.

Marner and Matthews were both born in 1997 only separated by a few months. With a few changes of circumstance, these two could have easily been drafted in the same year and never had the chance to play with each other. Thankfully for Leaf fans that is not the case.

Each player has taken drastically different paths that have ultimately landed them in the same position, an opportunity to be a franchise player in the largest hockey market in the world, and rightly so. Each player has dominated every level they have played to this point in their young lives.

Auston Matthews was born September 17th, 1997 in San Raman, California. He grew up in Arizona where he watched the coyotes and developed his hockey skills, not your typical star hockey player childhood. He played his junior career with the U.S national developmental team. The 2014-2015 season, he played 60 games producing 116 points (55g 61a) breaking a record previously set by Patrick Kane in 05-06. For the 2015-2016 season, he chose to step up in competition and play against men in the swiss national league for the ZSC Lions playing 36 games and producing 46 points (24g 22a). Very impressive for an 18-year-old! I am not even mentioning international stats and accolades because the list is too long, for both players!

Mitch Marner was born May 5th, 1997 in Markham Ontario. He had the typical Canadain hockey upbringing playing his junior career for the London Knights. In the 2014-2015 season, he accumulated 126 points in 63 games (44g 82a). In 2015-2016 he dominated the OHL again with 116 points in 57 games (39g 77a) and led his team to a memorial cup championship, and picked up pretty much every award possible for a junior player to win along the way.

The clear difference between Matthews and Marner is size. Matthews stands at 6'2" 215 lbs, a size most would agree is very suitable for immediate entry into the NHL. Marner on the other hand steps in at 5'11" 164lbs. Don't let his smaller than average NHL frame fool you, this kid has speed and skill in huge amounts! Just go to youtube and search "Mitch Marner Highlights" I guarantee you will not be disappointed. If he can put on 10-20 pounds over the summer he will easily step in and compete at the NHL level.

Whoever you choose to be the face of the franchise it won't be a bad decision, leaf fans for the first time have a duo to be very excited about. The Blackhawks drafted, dare I say, similar players in Patrick Kane and Johnathan Toews. I know that is high praise for two young unproven players. We certainly won't be able to plan a parade for at least a few seasons yet, but get excited Leafs nation! These kids are for real!

-Pittski

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Auston Matthews hits the ice

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Off season outlook

Dynamic Duo

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Welcome to Everything Leafs!