The temptation is to call this weekend The Mitch Marner Show.

But for the Maple Leafs, the four-team NHL rookie tournament in London is not just about one prospect.

They already know Marner is a very good forward and that his real chance to crack the Leafs roster will come later this month when full camp opens and he gets into exhibition games. Everyone is also aware the CHL player of the year must make the Leafs or go back to the London Knights, with no avenue to play farm hockey with the Marlies.

So, for now, 2015’s fourth overall pick is one of 31 on the rookie roster, many of whom are also going to the main camp and could be fighting for opening night jobs. That won’t stop him being a crowd favourite, with all scouts’ eyes locked on him.

“I’m sure this is going to be exciting for Mitch, going back to London,” said Sheldon Keefe, the Marlies’ coach, who is running the tournament team.

“Mitch is obviously a special player (160 regular-season and playoff points in 75 games) and had another great year in junior. But enough has been said about what kind of player he is. We want to keep the focus on the ice for him.

“We’ve got an exciting group coming, a new crop of players, some of whom we saw in development camp (in July).”

Marner will play at least two of three games in three days with the goal to rest all Leafs at least once.

Keefe and team brass, who’ll be at Budweiser Gardens to see games against Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Montreal youngsters, have much to assess. Twelve Leafs are draft picks of the last two years as the so-called “Shanaplan” has included the hoarding of picks.

Keefe and the Marlies, who went three playoff rounds last year, were able to see defencemen Andrew Nielsen and Travis Dermott after their junior seasons ended. The Marlies blueline has lost T.J. Brennan and Stu Percy over the summer and Connor Carrick intends to stay with the Leafs.

“(Nielsen and Dermott) were at this event last year, as well as Leafs camp and then with us at the end, so they got some experience,” Keefe said. “Now it’s about stepping up the responsibility, They know what’s expected of them and they have an insight on the system. Both are looking to transition in pro hockey.

“You look at guys who’ve been through this before and they can take a big step towards being a leader. They can establish their game early. You have to understand the opportunity, get ready for Leaf camp, apply the things you worked on in the summer. Everyone is happy to get going again, but now there will be people be watching; management, scouting, coaches.”

Among the mystery players coming to London who were summer signings or coming on free agent tryouts is California-born University of Denver centre Trevor Moore.

Playing left wing opposite Marner in July, the two had a chemistry. The 5-foot-10 Moore also had 44 points in 40 NCAA games, helping earn him an entry level contract.

“Trevor is a player I’m definitely interested in seeing,” Keefe said. “It was exciting to work with him at development camp. Through his time at Denver, he’s earned the opportunity and he can carry it through to Leafs’ camp. He’s been around out training facility all summer.”

Swedish winger Andreas Johnson, 21, will be at his first rookie event after winning a league title with Frolunda last May. The 2013 pick joined the Marlies for playoffs, but was quickly concussed.

Another 21-year-old, big centre Frederik Gauthier, will be at his fourth rookie tourney. Goalies Antoine Bibeau and Kasimir Kaskisuo will get a game each and the best of the two likely gets to face Pittsburgh in Sunday afternoon’s finale.

THE SCHEDULE

NHL Rookie Tournament schedule:

(All games at Budweiser Gardens in London)

Friday - Pittsburgh vs. Montreal 3:35 p.m. / Ottawa vs. Toronto 7 p.m.

Saturday - Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa, 3:35 p.m. / Toronto vs, Montreal 7 p.m.

Sunday - Ottawa vs, Montreal, 1 p.m. / Toronto vs. Pittsburgh, 4:35 p.m.

LEAFS' ROOKIE ROSTER

A full list of the Leafs going to the rookie tourney. Draft picks indicated.

Goal: *Antoine Bibeau, Kasimir Kaskisuo

Defence: Nikolas Brouillard, *Travis Dermott, *Stephen Desrocher, Justin Holl, Jon Jutzi, *Nicolas Mattinen, *Keaton Middleton, *Andrew Nielsen, Ty Stanton, *Rinat Valiev

Forwards: *Jeremy Bracco, *Tony Cameranesi, *Martins Dzierkals, Tye Felhaber, *Frederik Gauthier, Cason Hohmann, *Andreas Johnson, *Nikita Korostelev, Tobias Lindberg, Mason Marchment, *Mitch Marner, Trevor Moore, *J.J. Piccinich, Colin Smith, *Dmytro Timashov, *Jack Walker, Chase Witala, Tyler Wong

Coach: Sheldon Keefe

OTHERS TO WATCH

CANADIENS

D Mikhail Sergachev: First look at 6-foot-2 Windsor Spitfires defenceman, picked ninth overall in June. Has shown maturity beyond his years.

C/RW Michael McCarron: Signifies Habs’ switch to more size up front. At 6-foot-6, had a taste of the NHL with 20 games last season, scoring once.

SENATORS

D Thomas Chabot: First-rounder from 2015 was a member of the Canadian world junior team. Was on a point-a-game pace with Saint John in the QMJHL.

LW Nick Paul: Big man got into 24 NHL games last year. Acquired from Dallas in the Jason Spezza trade, ready to step into the Battle of Ontario full time.

PENGUINS

C Oskar Sundqvist: The 6-foot-3 prospect appeared in two playoff wins for the Cup champion Pens, capping a successful first year in North America. He and goalie Matt Murray were two picks apart in 2013’s rich third round.

C Thomas Di Pauli: While Jimmy Vesey’s free agency story raged in late summer, Notre Dame’s alternate captain Di Pauli also waited out his time as Washington property, then signed here. The fourth rounder in 2012 had 32 points in 37 games.

lhornby@postmedia.com