'Those Are Things That We'll Handle Behind Closed Doors': Have Contract Negotiations Between the Maple Leafs and Mitch Marner Already Begun?

When Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving fielded a question about Mitch Marner and John Tavares' contract on Wednesday, he reiterated what he's said time and time again.

Both Marner and Tavares are in the final year of their contracts. Marner is entering the last season of a six-year, $65.408 million deal, while Tavares is approaching the final year of his seven-year, $77 million contract. The two have admitted that they want to remain in Toronto past this season. 

Although it was a hot topic during Wednesday's media day availability, the discussion was quickly shut down by all three of Treliving, Marner, and Tavares.

"I'm not going to speak about contracts, right? So we can throw that one out of the way right off the bat. But [Marner and Tavares are] great players. Both have had great summers. We're fortunate," Treliving said on Wednesday.

"Like I said, when I got here, having players like Mitch and John is one of the lures of coming here. When I talked to Craig (Berube) about coaching here, great players, and hopefully are going to be great Leafs for a long, long time. As far as worrying about any contracts, those are things that we'll handle behind closed doors and if we have news to report, we'll report it."

Marner echoed the same thoughts.

"I'm not here to talk about that. Like I said at the captaincy media availability, I'm very happy to be a Maple Leaf. It's an unbelievable privilege, but I'm not here to talk about [contract negotiations]. I'm here to talk about the season and getting going."

As did Tavares.

"I understand the question, I respect it, obviously. It's not something I'm going to talk about or focus on every single day and whatnot, but obviously I want to be here, I want to be here long term and hopefully that happens."

It appears all three parties are following suit with how the William Nylander negotiations went last season: Play well and earn yourself a brand new deal, while also not discussing negotiations publicly, if those even are occurring.

It's unclear if Tavares' camp is already in negotiations with Toronto, but on Wednesday afternoon, we learned that Marner's camp might be in talks with the team. In an article from The Athletic's Jonas Siegel, he says that The Athletic reached out to the 27-year-old's agent, Darren Ferris. And although he didn't reveal specifics, Ferris did mention that discussions are happening.

"To maintain the integrity of ongoing negotiations, it is essential that these discussions remain confidential and are conducted in a constructive manner. As such, we will not be providing public updates on their status at this time."

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman also said on Wednesday during his The FAN Pregame that Marner doesn't have the rule like some players do, where once the puck drops on the season no more contract talks can be had.

With Nylander having the biggest year of his career last season, amid contract negotiations, Marner may do the same. The right-winger hasn't reached 100 points yet in a season, as last year was a write-off due to an injury which forced him to miss significant time.

He had 26 goals and 59 assists for 85 points in 69 games, which, if he played a full 82-game season, would have gotten him over the 100-point threshold. However, as Marner said during his Wednesday media availability, he's not focusing on a contract.

"It's another year of wanting to be the best you can be and the best player you can be to help his team with hockey games, so that's where my mind is," Marner said. 

It's not thinking of, you know, a contract year, you're going to be doing this and that. It's just another hockey year that you want to be the best you can be to help this team win hockey games and try to get to the ultimate goal."