Marner is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Brad Treliving finds himself in a familiar position.
As he gets set to embark on his second consecutive season as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of his top stars is without a contract extension beyond this season.
Mitch Marner opened training camp three weeks ago saying he wasn't going to discuss the issue in the media, but he did tell Sportsnet he has no aversion to discussing a deal during the season.
Treliving has liked what he's seen from the skilled player during training camp and feels he's Marner is prepared to produce without the weight of the future beyond this season hanging over his head.
"He's prepared," Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said. "I think like anything in life, when you prepare, any job that you're in, going to school, any test you take when you're prepared And you're confident, you know, that allows your ability to take over. And I think that's what Mitch is."
The Maple Leafs have set up Marner to have a big year. Despite ending last season off of his usual line with Auston Matthews, incoming head coach Craig Berube reunited the duo all camp and they will begin the season against the Montreal Canadiens in that same spot in both clubs' season opener at Bell Centre on Wednesday.
Last season, the Maple Leafs were in a similar situation with William Nylander. But the player produced a torrid pace and was leading the team with 54 points in 37 games before signing an eight-year deal worth $92 million on Jan. 8.
Could the same happen again? It's possible. But unlike Nylander who was only earning an average of $6,962,366 fon his previous contract, Marner's previous hit comes in at a much higher $10,903,000. He'll definitely command some kind of raise.
.If Marner gets off to the red-hot start similar to how Nylander did last season, the Leafs might break the bank on him. With John Tavares' $11 million cap likely to be reduced or off the books completely, depending on how those talks go, and a salary cap projected to increase to as much as $92.5 million based on early projections, the Leafs could accommodate it.
"I couldn't be more pleased with him during camp," Treliving added on Marner. "He's got a lot of juice to him. He brings energy to our group. And then his on-ice play speaks for itself."
The question about Marner, like many other core players has always been about the playoffs. The same core has won one playoff round since they've been together. There's little doubt that this team is a good regular season team. If Marner goes on a Nylander-like run, does it make sense to extend him early? If it's been about playoff success, shouldn't they wait this time? It may behoove the Leafs to just let the season play out. But it comes with the risk of having him walk.
