Projection: Middle Six Upside

Tools: Offensive Creativity, Goal Scoring, Work Rate

Development Opportunities: Explosive Skating, Physical Development

I've been really impressed with Warner’s creativity and puck skills. He can handle pucks effectively in small areas, work off the wall, and penetrate for quality chances, all through his ambition to handle the puck. Puck on his stick, he’s highly confident and has had plenty of high-end skill moments where he beats a defender to get to the inside and finish from the scoring areas. While the offensive creativity is at the forefront, there is a commendable underlying element of forechecking and work ethic that makes for good value away from the puck and brings a pesky presence.

If Warner can increase his explosiveness and foot speed, I can see some real value as a third line forward that brings off-puck value and goal-scoring upside. The engagement and effort level are there, I just think he'll need to ramp up the pace to ensure he can close down players as quickly at the junior level, but at this stage a solid bet on a player with a good mix of offensive potential and work rate.

The lone goal scorer for the Marlboros, Michael Warner was a real contributor for his team even outside of that play. Warner has a good motor and great work ethic and is willing to battle opposing players on both the defensive and offensive side of the puck. As an offensive player, Warner is able to make solid pushes up ice as a puck transporter, entering the offensive end. In his own end he is able to provide value on the penalty kill and in helping to snuff out offensive chances from the other team. Offensively he has a good shot and shows the ability to make plays and create offence.

While he didn’t find the back of the net, Warner had a good chunk of the offensive chances and easily could have had a few. He was always in the right spots, hovering around the offensive zone with clever routes, and was rewarded with a few good opportunities under this theme of smart offensive positioning. Warner had some moments where he showed his creativity and puck handling, leveraging his slick hands to evade a check and then try to drive the scoring areas. A good showing for Warner to create chances in a tightly checked game where not many were able to generate much.

A hard forechecking forward, Michael Warner combined skill and physicality well, getting plenty of good looks in close with the puck. He applies pressure well as a forechecker using the threat of his physical presence to force turnovers and is more than willing to finish his checks when the opportunity presents itself. He potted one goal in this game off a good read, moving himself into the slot with a quick catch and release goal to put the Marlboros ahead.

Warner was involved in every facet of the game. Showing a strong puck possession game, getting in the forecheck, and some solid offensive skill in my views. The all around offensive tools were certainly there, controlling sequences within the offensive zone, making smart little touch passes, and finding ways to get off the wall and make things happen. He showed the willingness to get off the wall, drive the middle lane, and penetrate for quality chances. This all resulted in tons of chances and points on the scoresheet, which of course is always nice to see. While the offensive was great, I thought Warner’s off-puck game was right up there with the chance creation. He was intercepting passes, applying pressure, finishing backchecks, and just being a pest off the puck to win back possession. With the persistent puck pursuit game to add to the offence, it made for a really solid opening weekend for Warner.

Warner was the final of a Marlboros trio who caught my eye, as he showed a notable combination of handling, creativity, and ambition. When he had the puck, he seemed to be constantly trying to make something happen offensively, whether through a clever pass or a slick move to the middle. Michael wasn’t always successful in deceiving his way by checks, but I liked the ambition to attempt high-end plays, and in the early days, I was looking more for thought process over perfect execution.