One 19-year-old was expected to package his skills and six-foot-two, 215-pound frame in a seamless transition to the NHL.
Another was told to add as many pounds to his five-foot-11, 160-pound body as possible over the summer, as though his dazzling offensive skill set wouldn't be enough to avoid another season of junior hockey.
Auston Matthews went above and beyond expectations on Oct. 12, becoming the first player in the modern era to score four goals in his first NHL game in the Toronto Maple Leafs' season-opening 5-4 loss at Ottawa.
Any belief the 2016 first overall draft pick would maintain that type of pace was absurd. However, a 20-goal pace in his next eight starts was acceptable.
But Matthews hasn't scored in his past 11 games, including an eight-game stretch in November, causing some members of Leaf Nation to remain in panic mode, even though the centre tops all Maple Leafs with 65 shots in 17 games.
"We think he's a very good player already," Toronto coach Mike Babcock told reporters earlier this week of Matthews, who scored 24 goals last season for the Zurich Lions, a professional men's team in Switzerland, and has topped 16 minutes in 14 of 17 outings with the Leafs. "But we think he can be lights out."
Highlight-reel goal
Instead, Marner, the so-called undersized winger, has been dominant in blue and white, posting 16 points (seven goals, nine assits), one shy of linemate James van Riemsdyk for the team lead.
Since finding his way in the NHL with one goal and six points in nine October games, the Markham, Ont., native has scored six times and collected 10 points in his past seven starts.
Marner delivered another highlight-reel moment in Thursday night's 6-1 home win over Florida and ruined ex-Maple Leaf goalie James Reimer's return to Toronto.
Late in the first period, Marner brushed aside Panthers defenceman Michael Matheson and broke in alone on Reimer, pulling the puck back to his forehand inches from the goal-line and scoring his seventh goal, and 13th even-strength point, to lead all NHL rookies.
"You look at all the kids in our lineup — [defencemen Connor] Carrick and [Nikita] Zaitsev and [forwards Zach] Hyman and [Connor] Brown, and then the three guys that have elite skill — he not only has the skill but he competes every night," said Babcock.
"He competes with and without the puck. That's really positive. I've never coached a kid that good that young."
So we ask you.
Is Mitch Marner the face of the Maple Leafs?
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