Toronto Maple Leafs star winger Mitch Marner, who has been subject to considerable criticism this offseason, is ramping up his preparations for the upcoming 2024-25 season in a significant way.
As he heads into the final year of his six-year, $65.41 million contract with the Leafs, Marner is reportedly training alongside two of the NHL’s biggest stars – Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon – at a mini camp in Vail, Colorado.
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During the latest episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast on Friday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman shared insights into the training session and Marner’s work ethic this summer heading into a contract year.
“First of all, I understand that he has taken his summer extremely seriously,” Friedman told co-host Kyle Bukauskas. “He knows this is all hovering around him, and he has been determined to have the best possible summer he can to be ready. Second, I believe he’s in Vail this weekend with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.”
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“At times I understand he has been on a line with them, we’ve talked on this pod before that at a previous BioSteel camp, he played with MacKinnon as linemates and MacKinnon’s a big fan,” said Friedman. “I’ve heard he’s looked dynamite with Crosby and MacKinnon at this Vail camp, which I believe is run by Andy O’Brien. I’m really curious to see this. I think he’s taken this summer very, very seriously.”
Marner’s offseason focus seems to reflect the importance of the coming season, both for his personal performance and his future with the Leafs. The 27-year-old has been a pivotal piece of Toronto’s offense since 2016, however, with his contract set to expire, speculation has mounted about his long-term future in Toronto. Noting that contract negotiations are never easy, Friedman acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead in the potential upcoming process.
“The whole contract thing, it’s never easy,” Friedman added. “And if you’re asking me what the best thing is for the player and the team, the best thing for the player and the team is for everyone to come to their senses and find a way to ensure that he stays. But, I don’t even want to put a percentage down if that’s going to happen.”
Related: ‘I’m Looking Forward to Coaching Him’: Maple Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube Shares Thoughts on Meeting Mitch Marner and the Viral Coffee Picture
In the 2023-24 regular season, Marner played 69 games, tallying 26 goals and 59 assists for 85 points. He added three points (1G, 2A) in seven playoff games during the Leafs’ first-round series loss to the Boston Bruins.
Still, the former fourth-overall pick is positioning himself to make a strong case for a new deal – whether that deal will come from the Maple Leafs or another NHL team remains to be seen. For now, Marner’s focus appears to be squarely on the upcoming season, and training alongside Crosby and MacKinnon could only elevate his game even further.
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