LEAFS NOTES: Mitch Marner making little fuss on the verge of 100 points

Much fewer than 100 Maple Leafs have ever reached 100 points.

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Only three in fact since NHL expansion, though a fourth is about to join. Mitch Marner comes into Tuesday’s game in Buffalo needed a goal or assist to join Doug Gilmour, Darryl Sittler and Auston Matthews. All did it twice, Gilmour holding the record of 127 in 1992-93, Sittler reaching 117 his best year of ‘77-78 and Matthews 107 on the strength of his Rocket Richard Trophy-winning 69 goals two years ago.

Marner would become the first Toronto winger to reach 100, after stalling at 99 two years ago after a high-intensity finish in his final regular season game that April to get triple figures. While Marner didn’t speak after getting a goal and two assists in Carolina on Sunday and Monday was a team day off, there has been an unwritten rule among top Leaf scorers this year to play down individual milestones, conscious they have rarely followed up with more meaningful playoff production.

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But it’s worth remembering a lot of media and fans saw the unsigned Marner as incompatible with hard-nosed new coach Craig Berube when the latter was hired last spring. Marner has become one of his most trusted in the early-season injury absence of Matthews, as penalty killer, power-play specialist and on occasion, a defenceman. Marner is still approaching free agency, but says he would like to stay in his hometown.

STICK TO CANADIAN

Graeme Roustan, the Sherbrooke, Que.-born investor, who was hoping to bring a second NHL team to the GTA a few years ago, has praised the Leafs for switching their large souvenir stick inventory to Roustan’s Bauer factory in Brantford, the country’s last such shop.

“The Leafs used to get all their promotional sticks (giveaways for three-star selections, charity and other promotions) from an overseas competitor,” said Roustan, the guest speaker at last week’s NHL Alumni Luncheon at Scotiabank Pond.  “Six months ago, I called up Shanny (team president Brendan Shanahan) and brought in my sticks to compare.

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“I said it makes no sense why MLSE and the Leafs are buying signature sticks from overseas when I have 60 employees down the road in Brantford, all Leaf fans, sweating to make sticks for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Minnesota Wild, Florida, L.A. — but not the Leafs.

“Shanny said ‘let me look into it’ — to be fair it was something below his pay grade — and called me back a few days later saying ‘we’re 100 per cent in.’

“Made in Canada, supported by Canadian teams … that’s what will make the business grow,” Roustan added.

Shanahan politely declined comment for the story.

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TOM IN GEAR FOR 1,500

A few Leafs could have been awarded the team’s wrestling belt on Sunday after completing a difficult back-to-back weekend sweep.

But it was given to long-time team assistant equipment manager Tom Blatchford for his 1,500th game. Players and team staff posed with Blatchford and the belt for the club’s social media feed.

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Blatchford came to the Leafs in the early 2000s from the Belfast Giants of the British League, now coached by Sheldon Keefe’s younger brother Adam.

LOOSE LEAFS

Matthews needs one goal in Buffalo for 400 in his career, now sitting 21 behind franchise leader Sundin … This will be the first year the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins have missed the playoffs since 1967. Did anything significant to the Leafs happen in the playoffs that season? … With his one appearance on Sunday, blueline call-up Dakota Mermis has now played for five NHL teams (Minnesota, Arizona, New Jersey, Utah and the Leafs). The 31-year-old was on the 2012-13 Memorial Cup-winning London Knights with current teammates Max Domi and Anthony Stolarz.

Lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby

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