Toronto Maple Leafs right winger Mitch Marner isn't here to discuss his future with the team, but Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews are backing him up.
Mitch Marner, Nathan MacKinnon and Auston MatthewsLet the trade speculation begin again for Toronto Maple Leafs right winger Mitch Marner.
Marner and John Tavares, who are both entering the final year of their contracts, took two completely different approaches to discussing their future with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, the first day of training camp.
While Tavares told reporters he wants to remain a Leaf beyond next season, Marner began his media availability by saying, “I'm not here to talk about that.”
Read between the lines, and it sure doesn’t sound like a contract extension is imminent.
That should fuel further speculation that Marner, who is earning $10.903 million this season, could be a free agent next summer. If so, you can guarantee there will be 31 teams lining up for his services.
“I think Marner is a great player,” McDavid told The Hockey News at last week’s NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour in Las Vegas. “He produces year in and year out. I skated with him too at that camp, and he looks great. I’m sure he’s going to have a real good year.”
McDavid wasn’t the only Hart Trophy winner who came away impressed after spending time with Marner this summer. Nathan MacKinnon, who along with Sidney Crosby also skated with Marner, told The Hockey News the 27-year-old “gets a lot of flak in Toronto” that isn’t necessarily warranted.
“He’s honestly one of the best players in the league,” said MacKinnon. “I play with some of the best players, and then I skate with Marner, and he’s right up there with anyone. He looks awesome. He’s so impressive out there. Unreal. So good, so talented.”
Marner had 26 goals and 85 points in 69 games last season. But it was his subpar play in the playoffs — he had one goal and three points in seven games — that had folks blaming Marner for what was yet another first-round exit.
Outside of Toronto, the view could not be more different.
Like Phil Kessel, who was often criticized for the Leafs’ failings but then won back-to-back Stanley Cups after being traded to Pittsburgh, it might take a change of scenery for Leafs fans to appreciate what they have in Marner. Then again, it takes a certain player — and a certain personality — to thrive in a pressure cooker like Toronto.
“I obviously understand what it means to play in a Canadian market. I don’t necessarily know what it’s like to play in Toronto,” said McDavid. “I can only imagine the pressure these guys are under. To be honest, the core guys do a lot of really good things in handling the media and in handling the pressure.”
Added MacKinnon: “With Toronto, I definitely feel for them. I think when we’re out, I’m always kind of rooting for them and want them to do well. I like when people have a lot of pressure on them, I want them to succeed. I’m always kind of rooting not for the underdog, but usually people with pressure, it’s harder to deliver.”
In other words, this could be a make-or-break season for not only the Leafs — but also Marner, who is going to get paid. The only question is which team will be signing the cheques. And the 2022 Hart Trophy winner, Auston Matthews, discussed that as well.
“He’s dealt with (the distraction of the contract extension) great,” Matthews told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s had a great summer. With all the noise, you can only control so much. So I think he’s put in a lot of work. He looks great on the ice, off the ice, focused.
"We’re all here to support him as teammates and as a team, so I don’t think that stuff’s really affected him or is going to affect him much at all. He’s an amazing teammate and an amazing person, and he’s a great player for our team. I’m looking forward to playing with him again.”
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