Mitch Marner pushes limits with intense offseason training alongside two Stanley Cup champions

Toronto Maple Leafs standout Mitch Marner seems to be taking some inspiration and wisdom away from two of the NHL's greats into his training camp this offseason.

On the "32 Thoughts" series premiere with Kyle Bukauskas, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that Mitch Marner has taken a major road trip to train with Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon, two of the league's best.

None of it was expected to be different as both Crosby and MacKinnon have a strong connection to Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia and the latter two have become extremely close since MacKinnon's rise onto the scene in the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads. The pair has been known to compete against one another, both on the ice and off of it, setting a high standard for Marner this summer.

Of course, Mitch Marner's contract situation still continues to overshadow the future of his time with the Leafs. Now eligible to sign an extension as of July 1st, the 26-year-old winger still has one more season remaining on his deal at a cap hit of $10.93 million. Beyond that, his future is cloudy as he approaches unrestricted free agency next summer. Marner had a great regular season, with 85 points in 69 games, but he contributed very little to the Leafs playoff run, scoring just once and assisting twice in seven games, which seems to be a constant problem for the Leafs when the games matter most.

Elliotte Friedman also made sure to note that talks with Mitch Marner aren't going to be easy, either. His agent is known to be hard-headed and often waits until the very last second before signing a contract. That could very well create a tense standoff for Leafs fans eager to see Marner locked in long-term before the summer of 2025. Who knows, the Leafs could even look to trade him at the deadline if talks are going absolutely nowhere, as they may want to ensure they don't lose him for nothing in the summer.

All eyes will be on Mitch Marner, from Toronto's front office to the fans, as he looks to take his game to new heights, learning from two of the NHL greats, as he attempts to have the season of his life so that he can earn one massive pay cheque.

Source:
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Source: Elite Prospects
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