When Jeff Skinner was named as the final player to be selected to the Atlantic Division all-star team, it meant that dynamic superstars Brayden point and Mitch Marner and potential Norris candidate wouldn't be attending their first NHL All-Star Game.
Ahead of the divisional showdown between the Maple Leafs and Lightning on Thursday night in Tampa, reporters caught up with two-time all-star Victor Hedman to get his thoughts on shutting down the line of Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Andreas Johnsson.
"They go to the net hard. He (Marner) is an unbelievable player; he's pretty underrated in my mind."
"He's got great speed and got his head up the whole time. They play a hard game, so it's always fun to have those kind of challenges and try to shut them down tonight."
When asked more specifically about Marner being underrated, Hedman opined that Marner doesn't get the proper credit he deserves.
"There's not a whole lot of talk about him. He's not in the all-star game and neither is Rielly which was mind-boggling.
"For me, the way he (Marner) plays the game, the way he is, I think he's obviously one of their more important players."
Marner leads all Leafs in points this season at 59 with 18 goals, 41 assists in 45 games and is second on the team in points per game (1.31) behind Auston Matthews' marker of 1.35.
Hedman and the Lightning have done a decent job in limiting Marner's production, as the Toronto native has just one goal and four assists in nine career games against the top team in the NHL.
