According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner isn’t concerned about his highly-anticipated contract extension and has been busy this summer putting in work to prepare for the 2024-25 season. Marner’s offseason training has included skating in the high altitude of Colorado with NHL superstars Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.

Dreger touched on the very latest from Marner’s camp on First Up and made it quite apparent that both sides are going to be patient when it comes to agreeing on a new contract.

“Marner’s putting in his time this summer. He’s ready to get going and prove that this year’s team, potentially going to be the best in a long, long time,” Dreger explained. “I don’t get the sense that there’s contract pressure on Marner. He’s happy for it to be quiet. There’s good dialogue between his agent, Darren Ferris, and Brad Treliving, they’ve got a good relationship. But, they’re not in heavy negotiations and both sides are ok with that.”

“I think they’re in a good place, but I don’t want to misconstrued that with the belief that an extension is looming, that it’s going to happen quickly,” Dreger continued. “Obviously it’s going to be a top-of-mind big story from the beginning of training camp and to the day an extension is committed and announced. But, I don’t have the sense that’s going to happen anytime soon.”

“I think both sides are OK with that. Marner knows this is yet another big year for that young leadership group and he’s a huge part of that. So, he’s focused on a good start for himself, for his team. I know he’s been training with Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and a group in Colorado under the leadership of Andy O’Brien.”

O’Brien is known as one of the best minds in hockey training, often referred to as the ‘Muscle Whisperer’ and has been training Crosby, and many other NHL stars and high-performance athletes for decades.

Marner is entering the final season of his current contract, in which he’s set to make $10.9 million against the cap. He battled an ankle injury late in the year and finished the regular season with 85 points in 69 games and added another three points during the Leafs’ first-round series against the Boston Bruins.

Dreger believes Marner wants a long-term extension to stay in Toronto but does feel things could get complicated around the trade deadline if nothing is announced by then. It’s going to be an entertaining story line to follow heading into the 2024-25 campaign as Treliving’s job is to ensure the dollars make sense for the Maple Leafs moving forward.