Maple Leafs make way for Marner

TORONTO — Mitch Marner couldn’t help but think of the future as he sat in the Rogers Centre Sunday night and watched the Blue Jays eliminate the Texas Rangers.

“It was a lot of fun to see them close out the series like that,” Marner said Monday. “Walking outside and hearing all the horns, that’s what this team could make it look like. It’s a crazy place to play hockey; fans love it and it’s going to be buzzing when it happens.”

Marner knows he will be one of the many players in the Leafs lineup loaded with peach fuzz and potential when Toronto opens the 201617 regular season Wednesday in Ottawa against the Senators.

“First of all, (Marner) is not on a tryout,” Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello said. “At this point, he has made the team. And what we have seen of him, not only offensively but defensively, he has done very well. We are not thinking of anything other than how he can help us right now. He will be given every opportunity.”