Leafs' top draft pick Mitch Marner talks conservative financial strategy

Fourth overall draft pick Mitch Marner signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Leafs earlier this week, but unlike most other 18-year-olds, Marner said he does not have any interesting plans for the money from his first professional paycheck. 

"I'm just going to save it and make sure that I have money in the bank at all times, that I'm never in a moment that I have to stress for money or something like that," Marner said in an interview with SportsNet. "It's going to always be about saving money and thinking the right things, and not being crazy after my first contract and buying a fancy car or something like that. It's just saving."

Marner's financial strategy came from a man with plenty of experience with NHL contracts: new Toronto head coach Mike Babcock. Marner said he spoke with Babcock right after signing his contract, and the coach immediately extolled the virtues of a conservative financial lifestyle. 

"First thing he said to me is, 'You have money in the bank now but make sure you save it and don't go crazy with it,'" Marner said to SportsNet. "'You want to have money in the bank so after your hockey career you can just go off of that and never work a day in your life again.' That was really important for me to hear because as a young kid when you have money, you're not really sure what to do with it. You start buying everyone's meals. You start buying fancy things and sooner or later, you realize you have nothing in the bank." 

Although Marner now has a contract in hand, he is no sure thing for the Leafs' roster next year. Marner is a young 18-year-old, as he just celebrated his birthday in May, but he did enjoy quite a bit of success in the OHL last season by finishing second in the league in scoring with 126 points in 63 games. That number was a marked improvement from his 2013-14 stats, when he totaled 59 points in 64 games. 

(h/t SportsNet)