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A former Toronto Maple Leafs star made the list of Top 5 NHL wingers, a placement wrought with question marks.<\/p>\n
NHL Network recently published its rankings of top wingers ahead of the 2026-27 season. The top three should really surprise anyone. But for Toronto Maple Leafs fans, seeing Mitch Marner\u2019s name at number 4 should raise plenty of eyebrows.<\/p>\n
Introducing NHL Network\u2019s list of the Top 20 Wings Right Now! #NHLTopPlayers<\/a> <\/p>\n There\u2019s no question that Marner<\/a> is among the NHL\u2019s best wingers. He\u2019s a playmaking specialist, and certainly one of the guys any team would want on the ice. But when looking at some of the names below him on the list, there should be reason for doubt.<\/p>\n Ranked below the former Maple Leafs star is 40-goal, 90-point man Jason Robertson. The Dallas Stars forward is about as good as they come. He\u2019s fast, can score, and most importantly, doesn\u2019t fade away in the postseason.<\/p>\n The same could be said about Cole Caufield. The Montreal Canadiens 50-goal star ranks ninth. Sure, Caufield may not be the sort of playmaker that Marner is. However, Caufield proved he\u2019s also a consummate playoff performer.<\/p>\n That\u2019s something that the folks putting the list together should take into account<\/a>. In fact, Marner had a relatively down year by his standards after leaving the Maple Leafs last summer. That\u2019s why the other wingers listed below him deserve consideration to rank higher than Marner.<\/p>\n Where Should Marner Rank on the List?<\/p>\n So, the question begs: Where should Marner rank on the list?<\/p>\n The answer to that question depends on whether Marner remains a top-10 NHL winger. There\u2019s certainly an argument that Marner ranks higher than Matt Boldy of the Minnesota Wild or Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers.<\/a><\/p>\n But is the erstwhile Maple Leafs player really that much better than Mikko Rantanen? Would there be a case for Artemi Panarin or Kyle Connor to get a higher ranking than Marner?<\/p>\n On the whole, pundits will point towards Marner\u2019s defensive play. Yes, he kills penalties and is a very reliable forward without the puck. But when looking at the entire body of work, Marner isn\u2019t necessarily more of a game-changer than Rantanen, Panarin, or Connor. These are 40-goal, 100-point guys in their own right. That\u2019s something that Marner will have to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt this upcoming season.<\/p>\n What to read next:<\/p>\n Maple Leafs Land Winger in Top 10<\/p>\n As for the current crop of Maple Leafs players, William Nylander cracked the list at number 10. Like the argument against Marner, it\u2019s worth asking if Nylander really is that much better than Panarin, Kyle Connor or even Lucas Raymond.<\/p>\n Nylander is a game-changer. There\u2019s no question about it. But he doesn\u2019t offer much beyond scoring. Nylander has been notorious for his lackadaisical back-checking, while completely disappearing for stretches. When he emerges, he\u2019s capable of turning games around for the Maple Leafs.<\/p>\n Like Marner, Nylander had a relatively down year by his standards. So, the 30-year-old will need to prove he\u2019s the real deal if the Maple Leafs are to make the playoffs this upcoming season. A renewed sense of commitment following the organizational overhaul should help boost the team.<\/p>\n But that still won\u2019t answer questions until Nylander delivers on the ice.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tNestor Quixtan<\/a> Seasoned NHL and NFL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball, football, and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \t