Mitch Marner sets new Maple Leafs rookie assists record
Thursday was yet another landmark night for the Toronto Maple Leafs band of exceptional rookies as they toughed it out in Nashville to take a 3-1 decision over the Predators.
Exactly one week after William Nylander set a Leafs’ rookie record with points in ten consecutive games and two days after Auston Matthews set a new franchise rookie standard for goals, Mitch Marner broke the record for assists in a season by a Maple Leafs freshman.
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The secondary assist on James van Riemsdyk’s first period goal was helper No. 41 on the season for the 19-year-old, surpassing the previous mark of 40 set by Gus Bodnar way back during the 1943-44 season. Marner also moved into a tie with Nylander for second in the Maple Leafs’ scoring charts with 58 points, five behind Calder Trophy front-runner Matthews.
The Maple Leafs are dominating the rookie points leaderboard this term, with Matthews leading all first-years in goals and points, while Marner and Nylander round out the top four, both trailing Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine by just three points for second spot.
