In a twist of hockey fate, Colorado Avalanche standout Nathan MacKinnon recently stepped up to the plate to defend Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner in the wake of a tumultuous off-season. The 2024 Hart Trophy winner, MacKinnon, gave his two cents while reflecting on his summer spent on the ice in Vail, Colo., alongside Pittsburgh Penguins’ captain Sidney Crosby and other NHL stars.
“I think Marner got a lot of flak,” MacKinnon expressed, alluding to the Maple Leafs’ disappointing early playoff exit. “He’s one of the best players in the league. Toronto, I definitely feel for them.”
The rumblings surrounding Marner’s contract situation have been reverberating throughout the hockey world this off-season. As the 27-year-old winger entered the final year of his hefty six-year, $65.408 million deal with Toronto, talks of an extension have been swirling. With a cap hit of $10.9 million and a full no-move clause, Marner’s future in Toronto hangs in the balance.
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger shed some light on the ongoing negotiations, revealing that both sides have been in discussions but are not in a rush to finalize a deal just yet.
“There’s good dialogue between [Marner’s agent] Darren Ferris and [Maple Leafs general manager] Brad Treliving,” Dreger divulged. “But they’re not in heavy negotiations and again both sides are okay with that.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his contract situation, Marner has made it clear that his heart lies in Toronto. During a recent media session, he reiterated his commitment to the Maple Leafs organization amidst the transition of the team’s captaincy from John Tavares to Auston Matthews.
“I’m not going to get into that too much today,” Marner coyly responded when pressed about his contract. “I’m just going to say I love being here, I’ve said that from Day 1. I’m very fortunate and lucky to be a Maple Leaf.”
Amidst the contract talks and uncertainties, Marner chose to focus on the bigger picture, acknowledging the significance of the team’s leadership transition and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to play for the Maple Leafs.
“Today is about these two amazing people,” Marner reflected, shifting the spotlight away from his contract negotiations and towards the exciting changes happening within the Maple Leafs organization. As the hockey world eagerly awaits the resolution of Marner’s contract saga, one thing remains certain – his dedication to the Maple Leafs is unwavering.
