Fletcher had already been putting in work for the Maple Leafs in the post-Ballard era with the drastic franchise changing move that brought Doug Gilmour from Calgary, a Leafs trade that seemed to follow in the path of the Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar trade the Jays made a couple years earlier that would be the foundation for their World Series success.
Plenty of Toronto Maple Leafs will be haunted by the name Mitch Marner, but fair or not, Matias Maccelli may inspire the most comparisons of all. Both are smallish wingers. While you should expect a mammoth gap in actual production, each forward boasts sometimes-dazzling passing skills. Critics may at times even complain that passing is too often their first, second, and last options. Heck, they both even have alliterative names starting with an "M."
After a year where Cowan scored 34 goals (62 assists) and 96 points as well as capturing the Red Tilson Trophy as the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) most outstanding player award, OHL playoff MVP (Gretzky 99 Award) and an OHL championship, he changed many people's minds ( eliteprospects.com). Cowan quickly became a prospect recognized around the league and especially amongst Leafs nation, being named the club's top prospect unanimously, a title he still holds today.
Anthony Stolarz expressed his relationship with fellow Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll, stating, "We kind of understand that we all want the same thing and we're pushing each other, but we really don't let that affect us off the ice."