He looks young - he is young - but 21-year-old Mitch Marner is ready to take the next step in his pro career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Already one of the team’s top forwards, Marner’s most recent move is an off-ice initiative: he has started his own charity. The Marner Assist Fund will hold its first major event this week, as Marner and some of his NHL pals will hold a two-day skills event in the Toronto area with money going towards children’s causes.

“I’m very excited,” Marner said. “I’ve always wanted to do something like this and give back in different ways. I can’t wait to see the result.”

Making his initiative about children was a no-brainer, as the skilled right winger has felt a bond with kids since he played junior in the OHL with the London Knights. “They’re the next ones up,” Marner said. “In my time in London, I went to a lot of Sick Kids hospitals and I admired how hard they worked. No matter what they wake up with, they were happy and that put a smile on my face.”

Timing-wise, it’s interesting to see Marner engage with the community at the same time his on-ice game is maturing and taking off. As a sophomore, he led the Maple Leafs in scoring and his presence on the roster - along with Auston Matthews and William Nylander - helped sway John Tavares over from the Islanders in free agency. But it’s not just the dazzling skills that sets Marner apart; it’s also the determination and the fact that when he doesn’t have the puck, he’s trying to get it back as soon as possible.

“He works hard every shift,” said teammate Connor Brown. “No matter who we’re playing he puts in the same effort and with the consistency you get with him, he’s turning into a real leader.”

Because of that consistency, Marner was able to elevate his game in the post-season. He was Toronto’s best player in the first-round loss to Boston, tallying nine points in seven games. More telling, however, was the fact his ice time went up even as the games got more important. During the regular season, Marner ranked sixth among Leafs forwards in ice time (16:23), but in the playoffs he jumped up to third, averaging 17:03 per contest. It was a pretty good indicator that coach Mike Babcock - who had the reputation of leaning on veterans in the past - had faith in the kid and it did not go unnoticed.

“That’s what you want, a coach who trusts you,” Marner said. “It gives you confidence and makes you want to succeed even more in that spotlight.”

Now the mission is to keep the vibe going and build on it. Though the Tampa Bay Lightning still look like the top dogs in the East, the expectations on Toronto will be even greater for 2018-19, with Tavares in the fold, Matthews healthy and Marner coming off that solid sophomore campaign.

It’s going to take a lot of maturity in the young guys, but based on how Marner has been comporting himself both on and off the ice, that shouldn’t be a problem for the talented winger.