The biggest difference in Mark Hunter’s job now, as compared to the one he was in a year ago, is size.

As in, the size of the players. And the size of the mandate.

Hunter will be holding the drafting reins for the Maple Leafs as director of player personnel when the Leafs pick fourth (their own pick) and 24th (Nashville’s, from the Cody Franson trade) later this month.

It is the highest the Leafs have picked since choosing third overall in 1989.

“We’re looking at skill,” Hunter said. “Skill to us is hockey sense. Puck skills. All the things that make a guy unique. But you can never leave out character. I have no problem with a 5-10 guy that is physically strong and can get down the ice. Who would not like the (Tyler) Johnson kid out of Tampa? He’s not that big, but he’s wide. He’s strong.

“That’s not going to stop us from drafting a smaller guy. But you want some bigger guys, too. But we will not just focus on big guys.”

Hunter’s hiring this season comes at a time when the franchise is at a crossroads. The team has publicly forsaken quick fixes and has devoted itself to a patient — and likely painful — rebuild.

“As much as you draft them, you have to develop them,” Hunter said. “Be patient. And do not make a trade for a short-term gain. We have to be making sure these kids understand what it takes to be a pro. Don’t put them in situations you shouldn’t.

“We think we’re going to be more patient, give the kids more time to develop their game without losing their confidence when they come up.”

The Leafs braintrust has gathered in Buffalo — just like the other 29 teams — for the NHL combine this week. Most of the week is tied up in interviews between the 100 or so top prospects and the teams that want to talk to them.

It is Hunter’s first at the NHL level. He got the job because he built a reputation as a top evaluator of talent.

A year ago, Hunter was close to the top of his game. The co-owner and general manager of the London Knights, his major junior team was coming off two straight appearances in the Memorial Cup. Since he and his brother, Dale, bought the Knights in 2000, the Knights became known as the best identifiers and developers of young talent.

Hunter scoured the bantam and midget ranks successfully. The Knights have had 43 prospects drafted into the NHL since 2000, including 11 first rounders — three of them first overall (Patrick Kane, John Tavares and Rick Nash, though Tavares is more an Oshawa Generals product and was traded in his draft year).

Now Hunter’s job is to scour the junior ranks and find pro talent.

“I think the major difference is the size of the player,” said Hunter. “A 15-year-old has not matured. The example is the kid we had in London, Mitch Marner. He was 5-7 when we drafted him. And you didn’t know where he was going to height-wise. He’s almost six feet tall.

“It’s hard to judge at 15, but at 18, 19, you know their size, their weight, where they’re going to go with their weight if they work out. We really don’t know at 15, 16.”

Marner, by the way, is the sixth-rated North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. He’s also the fifth-rated centre, though he will more likely be a winger to start his NHL career.

Teen phenoms Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel will go first and second overall.

But from No. 3 to No. 12 — and some say to the 15th pick — there is little consensus. Some love Otters centre Dylan Strome at three. Some don’t like his skating. Some love Boston College defenceman Noah Hanifin at three. Some say he’s not even the best defenceman, preferring Ivan Provorov of the Brandon Wheat Kings or Zach Werenski of the University of Michigan.

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“It’s a good group of kids,” Hunter said. “Most are going to play. Most are going to have a 10-year career.”

By the time the week ends with fitness testing Saturday, each team will have had a chance to interview more than 100 prospects.

“You see what kind of person they are,” Hunter said. “You want to make sure they have some values, that they care about their family, care about their teammates.”

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