Craig Berube Speaks Out on Mitch Marner and His Contract Distractions
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has provided new insight on how Mitch Marner is being impacted by extension talks.
Mitch Marner has been questioned further over his future with the Toronto Maple Leafs and what he will do as the NHL season winds down, looking increasingly more likely the two sides will head to the end of the year without a new deal.
Having been linked at the trade deadline, something Toronto said was a contingency plan in the case Marner does not wish to re-sign, both sides maintain a want to continue their partnership, but Marner isn't putting pen-to-paper for right now.
Marner appears poised to head to free agency, something that doesn't preclude the Leafs star from re-signing in Toronto, but will added further tension on this season with a contract extension looming over him as what will be a prized free agent.
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube, who isn't involved in the contract discussions for Marner, gave an outside perspective on how Marner is navigating what will be a major decision for his future with his play right now for Toronto.
Berube Gives Look On Marner's Mentality With Free Agency Looming
Craig Berube says that despite the distractions of Mitch Marner's unsigned next contract, the 27-year-old winger has held his head up high and is focused on playing the game without losing focus.
TSN's Mark Masters spoke with Berube, who said that Marner has been very coachable and in practice has shown good energy.
Mitch has had good energy. He's been a real good. He's got a lot of energy every game, every practice. He seems happy. You know, those are the things I focus on as a coach.
One major complication that has come up that could change the framework of Marner's next deal is the Dallas Stars sign-and-trade of Mikko Rantanen, a player who compares similar to Marner and signed for eight-years at $12M annually, and was projected to have near identical deals.
Marner has 21 goals and 80 points in 63 games this season for Toronto.
Rantanen has 29 goals and 73 points in 64 games for Colorado/Carolina/Dallas this season.
Toronto may no longer be considering a deal that matches or beats the $13.25M annually given to captain Auston Matthews, but Marner is expected to get paid.
It's only a matter of what the numbers come down to on July 1st, likely not to be resolved right away unless Mitch Marner chooses his goal is to stay in Toronto.
| POLL | ||
MARS 13 | 521 ANSWERS Craig Berube Speaks Out on Mitch Marner and His Contract Distractions Do you think Mitch Marner will re-sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 341 | 65.5 % |
| No | 180 | 34.5 % |
| List of polls | ||