Mitch Marner

Marner is the motor that drives Maple Leaf success. His vision and hockey IQ make him one of the NHL's top playmakers, and his Selke-level competitiveness and defensive acumen are reminiscent of the great Red Wing, Pavel Datsyuk. Marner has flirted with the century mark in points for the last two seasons, and this year he will hit it, lead the Leafs in scoring and finish in the top-10 overall. He'll also dominate on PP1 and be on the ice late in the game to protect the lead. Marner is a durable top-10 talent who will slip to the end of round one or the start of the second, simply because he'll "only" score 30 goals. Pay attention to his usage late in the fantasy season -- head coach Sheldon Keefe may use load management techniques to ensure Marner's fresh for the playoffs.

Marner has been an above-average offensive player since his rookie season, but this past year was the true breakout many had been expecting for quite a while. Marner finished with career-best marks in goals (35) and points (97), while also posting a plus-23 rating. It's a positive sign that Marner was able to increase his production so significantly despite the fact he averaged 93 seconds less of ice time per game than a year prior. Marner's value has always been driven by his dominance with the man advantage, as he has posted at least 21 power-play points in five of his six NHL seasons. There's a lot of mouths to feed in the loaded Toronto lineup, but the 25-year-old Marner seems like a priority add for fantasy managers this coming fall.

Marner turned in a very productive campaign during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, notching 20 goals and 67 points in only 55 games. The 24-year old attained career highs in both shooting percentage (12.5%) and average ice time (22:26). The fourth overall pick from the 2015 NHL Entry Draft has established himself as one of the most dynamic forwards in the game, but he still has room to grow given his 1.22 points per game from last season was reached despite zero power-play goals. Marner should continue to feature prominently in Toronto's potent offensive attack and the skilled winger should experience some positive regression with regard to power-play goals, giving him the potential to pot 30 goals and flirt with the 100-point mark should he play to his potential in a full season. Marner's upside is easily worth an early-round selection in any draft.

Marner's 2019-20 totals paled in comparison to his 94-point performance in 2018-19, as he finished the campaign with just 16 goals and 67 points on the season, but he was still producing at nearly a 1.15 point-per-game pace, so his decrease in production can almost entirely be attributed to the month he lost due to an ankle injury and the NHL's shortened regular season. Marner will be just 23 years old when the 2020-21 campaign gets underway, so his best years are still ahead of him. 25-plus goals, 90-plus points and at least 25 power-play points seems like a near certainty over a full season for the fourth overall pick from the 2015 draft, production that makes him worthy of a top-20 pick in this year's fantasy drafts.

The Leafs have plenty of elite offensive options, but Marner is the best of the lot. He drives offense with his incredible vision, elite hockey sense and extraordinary agility. He sees lanes others just don't notice and finds his teammates' tape with laser-like efficiency. Marner finished 11th in the NHL with 94 points and 4th overall in assists (68) last season, but there's still room for improvement, as just 21 of Marner's 94 points came with the man advantage. Even a tiny improvement in the Leafs' power play should push him over the century mark in points. Don't be afraid to draft Marner if you pick near the end of the first round.

Marner led the Leafs in scoring in 2017-18 and that's not about to change. In fact, he could put up 90-95 points and end up leading the NHL in assists this year -- that's what happens when you put an elite playmaker on a line with a goal-scoring superstar. Marner will start the season with newly signed John Tavares and hard-working Zach Hyman. Marner's X-ray vision, bug-like agility and growing leadership on and off the ice could actually carry his line, and he should dominate on the first power-play unit. That's huge considering his teammates. Marner will be a fantasy beast this season and for years to come. His production is in the class of Sid the Kid, Connor McDavid, Patrick Kane and just a few others.

Marner had an incredible rookie year in 2016-17. His 61 points made him a top-40 NHL scorer, but that was only good enough for a tie for third on the rookie list with teammate William Nylander. No problem there -- the guy is humble beyond belief and is perhaps the next coming of the freakishly excellent Patrick Kane. And instead of being out of place in the NHL, Marner was the straw that stirred the drink for his line -- both James Van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak were better players when Marner was on the ice with them. The future is bright for Marner and your fantasy team will be the beneficiary, as 70 points is within reach for 2017-18.