Score another win for Toronto Maple Leafs rookies.
When Mitch Marner was named the National Hockey League’s rookie of the month for January — thanks to leading all first-year players with 11 assists and 15 points in 13 games — the centre not only collected an individual honour but also helped set a franchise record.
The Maple Leafs are the first NHL team to boast three different rookie of the month honourees in one campaign, one that’s only four months old, after William Nylander and Auston Matthews earned the award for October and December, respectively.
The youngsters have spurred a renaissance in Toronto this season. Despite a 6-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, the Maple Leafs sit just one point back of the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild card, but have three games in hand.
Marner beat Carolina Hurricanes winger Sebastian Aho (eight goals, two assists), Detroit Red Wings winger Anthony Mantha (four goals, six assists) and Winnipeg Jets winger Patrik Laine (four goals, six assists in six games) for January’s honour.
Marner, the fourth overall selection in the 2015 NHL draft, leads all rookies, and his team, with 29 assists this season. He is tied with Laine for the rookie points lead at 41, a total that also puts him on top of the Maple Leafs’ scoring list.
With files from The Canadian Press
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