Talented prospect has a 'good chance' of cracking NHL roster.

The big storyline as of late has been the fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs managed to land Auston Matthews in the 2016 NHL Draft. However there is another prospect waiting in the wings for Toronto that may be even more effective come the start of the 206 season.

Many members of Leafs' nation are wondering what the status of prospect Mitch Marner will be this season. Selected fourth overall by Toronto in 2015, it has become clear that Marner has outgrown junior and may be ready to take the next step. The 19-year old has recorded an unbelievable 242 points over his last 120 regular-season games with the OHL's London Knights. So clearly he must be ready to take the leap to the AHL?

Unfortunately no. While he is still eligible to play for the Knights, Marner's contract prohibits him playing in the AHL, so his two choices are London or the Leafs next season.

Toronto Maple Leafs' head coach Mike Babcock is a believer that Marner can break into the NHL and crack the Leafs roster to start the season. 

"I sure think he has a good chance," Babcock told TSN's Brent Wallace.

The team has been monitoring Marner closely while he exhibits his skills at the World Junior Summer Showcase this week, and they are very pleased with what they are seeing.

"I thought he was magical yesterday in practice," Babcock said. "I really like his attention to detail without the puck, how he knocks down pucks, how he knows where the puck's going. The puck always comes to him."

One of the only knocks on Marner's game is his size and strength. He's listed as 5-foot-11, 164 pounds, but Babcock doesn't necessarily see this as a big problem, so long as he's increasing his srength to compete at a higher level.

"Mitch has been working with our guys and really training hard. He's eating right and doing everything he can to get stronger, to say Mitch has to put on a bunch of weight, to me, is ridiculous," Babcock said.

The future looks bright with both Marner and Matthews waiting in the wings for the Leafs.

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