Toronto Maple Leafs forward Patrick Marleau has played alongside plenty of star-calibre players during his 21-year NHL career. So, when the veteran praises the play of teammate Mitch Marner, it should be taken for what it’s worth.
During an appearance on Hockey Central at Noon Friday, Marleau had some encouraging words on Marner’s skill level entering his third season as an NHLer.
“I think he’s unbelievable. I think each and every day, watching him play, practising with him, the hockey sense he has, the skill he has, it’s pretty amazing to be around,” Marleau said.
The 21-year-old Marner has eclipsed the 60-point plateau in each of his first two NHL seasons, but with growing confidence every passing game and the luxury of playing alongside fellow stars on a nightly basis, the former London Knights standout may just be scratching the surface of his potential.
“The sky’s the limit for him I think,” said Marleau. “(Marner) sees the ice so well. I don’t know what he’s done over his years, but he developed some very high skill level and he works, competes. He wants that puck and he wants to get it back when he loses it. You can see with his takeaways how he can pick-pocket guys. It’s really impressive.
“I enjoy watching him play, that’s for sure.”
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One of the notable stars Marleau played alongside during his lengthy tenure with the San Jose Sharks was future Hall of Fame centre Joe Thornton. When Marleau he joined the Maple Leafs, the 39-year-old was able to carry on the tradition (and luxury) of having a highly-talented centre as a teammate thanks to Auston Matthews.
Marleau sees a lot of similarities between the two centres.
“Obviously, Auston likes to shoot a lot more than Joe, but there’s quite a few similarities (between Matthews and Thornton). Both big bodies, like to control the play and have the puck on their stick. Obviously, Matthews has got the really quick hands and can stick-handle and tends to beat guys more one-on-one. They both see the ice really well and can make some really nice plays out there.”
Playing alongside talents like Marner and Matthews comes with lofty expectations, and rightfully so. But for Marleau, this isn’t the first time he’s been on a team with a realistic chance at winning a Stanley Cup. The 39-year-old preached consistency as one of the team’s recipes for success.
“For me right now and this group, we’re trying to build our foundation,” Marleau said. “I think the teams that build that foundation early on and have success and can stick with it throughout the season are usually the ones that can go far in playoffs.”
You can listen to the full interview in the audio player below.
