Scout: Potential Maple Leafs pick Mitch Marner shows similarities to Doug Gilmour
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the midst of a franchise revamp and could use someone to build a future around.
They may find that person in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.
Toronto will pick fourth overall and one skater on the team's radar is London Knights forward Mitch Marner, who is drawing comparisons to legendary Maple Leafs forward Doug Gilmour.
"He’s got a little bit of Doug Gilmour in him," Dan Marr, the chief scout for the NHL’s Central Scouting bureau told Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star. "Nothing you do is going to stop him from going out there to do what he can do."
Before being drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 1982, Gilmour scored 296 points between 1981-83 in junior.
Marner's numbers aren't as extravagant, but he piled on the points this season amassing 126 points in 63 games.
Marr still thinks Erie Otters forward Connor McDavid is the best player available in the draft, but makes sure to praise Marner's skill set.
"After Connor (McDavid), Mitch might be the most skilled player in the draft. Similar to Connor, it’s just the quickness in which he can process the game and execute plays. That really stands out in his favor."
“But then he’s got that durability and that grit level in him.”
Marner is expected to be drafted somewhere among the top six picks, along with McDavid, Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin, Dylan Strome and Lawson Crouse.
The draft will take place from June 26-27 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla.