Post by ALL CAPS on Nov 11, 2016 19:49:16 GMT -5
The much anticipated beginning of Mitch Marner’s NsHL career will have to wait at least one more year.
The Washington Capitals announced on Friday that the diminutive and highly skilled young forward has been returned to the London Knights of the OHL/CHL.
Washington GM Rob Willis said that the decision to send Marner back to his junior team was “hard” and that he has no doubt that Marner can play in the league right now.
“Mitch is an incredibly talented player and there are few like him,” Willis said after the announcement was made official. “However, when we measured to pro’s and the con’s, the consensus was the (Marner) would be better served by another year of conditioning and development.”
With his diminutive 170-pound frame, Marner might look like the little brother in the Washington locker room, but that hasn't stopped him from making a big early impression in the NsHL. Darting around the ice like a pinball, Marner has clearly made his case for a roster spot in Season14 (S14).
Even before he was plucked with the fourth overall pick at the 2015 draft, Marner was peppered with those questions. He thinks that while most in the hockey world paid attention to junior hockey and probably saw his awesome Ontario Hockey League numbers (including 126 points in 2014-15), they weren't really watching to see how those numbers were compiled, how he managed to succeed against bigger, stronger opponents.
"I think, really, no one understood how much I dodge checks to try and get out of the way of them," Marner said.
Out of his equipment, Marner looks a lot smaller than the official listing — six feet and 170 pounds — and lacks the chiseled physique of many NsHLers. He hasn't gotten much bigger over time either; three years ago, when he first checked into the OHL, Marner was listed at 160 pounds.
"It's never been a big deal to me," said Marner, one of only a handful of NsHL players currently listed at 170 pounds or less. "I've grown up with everyone always saying he's too small and stuff like that."
Because Marner has good balance and a low centre of gravity he's able to shift directions in a hurry, which means he can easily escape situations where brawn might otherwise be required. In other words, there's no need to fight for pucks in the corner or along the walls if you're never in that position to begin with.
Watch Marner and he's usually darting from one spot to another, feverishly pursuing the puck or slipping around defenders to get open.
“Obviously it’s disappointing for me right now,” Marner said of the decision. “I feel like I’ve done everything (in Junior) and I’m ready to progress at the next level and you hope that the team feels the same way,”
“If he wasn’t disappointed, I would be concernred,” Willis said of Marner’s comments, “but we have given him a clear map on the things that he can do to graduate to the next level and I’m pretty confident that (Marner) will play an important role with the Capitals as early as next season.”
For now the focus will switch back to the roster that the Capitals will ultimately ice on opening night this year and only time can tell what the future holds for Mitch Marner. The Capitals management team hopes that their patient approach with the youngster will allow help him make an easier transition to the league – and the Marner team hopes to see that day come sooner rather than later.
Made with files/quotes from: www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/marner-getting-last-laugh-1.3843395