Mitch Marner did his best to try to sidestep a narrative that will still hold sway: his future with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“There will be questions about my contract, but I’m not here to talk about that,” Marner told reporters Wednesday in a brief statement at the club’s practice facility. “I’m very happy to be a member of the Maple Leafs. It’s an incredible privilege. I’m here to talk about the upcoming season.”
Toronto will hold the first on-ice sessions of its training camp on Thursday.
Marner is entering the final year of his contract, signed in 2019. The impact on the salary cap this season will be $10.9 million.
The winger can become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
The athlete from Thornhill, in the Toronto suburbs, has been eligible to sign an extension since July 1.
After the seven-game first-round loss to Boston in the spring, there was speculation about the core of Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly.
It was the seventh time in eight years that the Leafs had been beaten in the playoffs.
Marner bore the brunt of the fans’ frustration, collecting just three points in a series in which Toronto scored just 12 goals.
“I’ve really tried to stay away from any comments about me,” he said of the criticism.
Marner seemed the obvious choice for a trade but with a no-trade clause, the 27-year-old had all the cards in his hand.
Matthews, who replaced Tavares as captain last month, said Marner handled the whispers well.
“You can’t control everything,” he said. “He looks great on and off the ice, and we’re all here to support him. He’s an incredible person, an incredible teammate.”
Marner had 194 goals and 639 points in 576 games with the Leafs over eight seasons. Drafted fourth overall in 2015, he added 50 points in 57 playoff games.
Team president Brendan Shanahan has seen Marner mature in recent months.
“Mitch has always been a very committed person and a very committed hockey player,” he said. “When you see the work he puts in, his love for the game and his love for the city of Toronto, it helps you believe in a guy like that.”
Head coach Craig Berube, who replaced Sheldon Keefe, is looking forward to working with Marner.
“I’m focusing on training camp. I’m instilling systems, work ethic and fighting spirit,” said the Stanley Cup winner at the helm of St. Louis in 2019. “Mitch is a vital part of our team.”
The Leafs are coming off another disappointing run in the spring tournament, with Marner having just three points in seven games as they were eliminated in the first round by the Boston Bruins.
