Though the speculations of a possible trade involving Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner will never go away, as mid-July approaches, it looks like we may be starting a new chapter.

Rumors during the NHL draft suggested that a Marner deal would be finalized by the second week of July, according to Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun in an article that was released on July 12. Although that hasn’t occurred, Koshan stated that we’re “heading into that territory.”

“If—a big if—Mitch Marner was going to be traded, it would take some time to consummate and probably wouldn’t happen for a couple of weeks,” Koshan wrote following the NHL draft in Las Vegas at the end of June. “Although that area of the schedule is approaching, there is currently no indication that a Marner move will actually take place.

“Marner’s camp has always stated that the standout winger, who is entering the last year of his contract, will report to training camp with the Leafs in September. As we previously stated, there has been no hard evidence to suggest otherwise. Without a doubt, the Marner matter is still sensitive.

Marner’s 2023–24 regular season totals included 26 goals and 59 assists in just 69 games. The urgent matter pertaining to Marner, though, is his contract expiration.

The six-year, $65.4 million contract that the superstar winger signed in 2019 has now entered its final season. Former Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas has referred to this contract as his “biggest mistake.”A complete no-move clause in Marner’s contract gives him the power to veto any deal if he is unhappy with the recipient.

Mitch Marner Is Adamant About Wanting to Remain in Toronto

It makes sense that rather than losing Marner for nothing in July 2025, the Maple Leafs look into the idea of selling him now.

Since the season ended, the Leafs organization has remained mostly silent on Marner’s circumstances and how the team would address them. But prior to the 2023–24 season, current Leafs general manager Brad Treliving stated that Mitch Marner was not the team’s top priority, but rather Austin Matthews and William Nylander.

Re-signing William Nylander and Auston Matthews to extensions was at the top of general manager Brad Treliving’s to-do list, according to Koshan’s article from a year ago. “And those signings came to pass, with Nylander getting an eight-year contract in January and Matthews receiving a four-year extension in August.

“The most Treliving has been prepared to say about Marner to the media, it is that he believes Marner is an excellent player and that “we’re blessed to have him.” Not much has been discussed, at least in public, regarding keeping Marner around after 2024–2025.

Regarding Marner, he expressed his desire to sign a long-term contract with the Maple Leafs in public during his end-of-season availability.

That would be the objective. I have said how much I adore this city and this place. I have, of course, grown up here. We’ll start considering that right now and working to find a solution. On May 6, Marner told the journalists, “It means the world to me.”

But since it takes two to tango, Marner is powerless to obtain an extension and will have to wait for Toronto to extend one to him.

Marner dismisses concerns about the future of the Maple Leafs

On July 12, Marner gave the keynote address at the “Marner Assist Foundation” event, but he gained notoriety by forbidding reporters from questioning him on his future in or out of Toronto.

During interviews, the celebrity answered a few questions from the press. David Alter of The Hockey News claims that Marner, however, refused to answer inquiries on the Maple Leafs or his future.

Today, Mitch Marner is making media appearances for his Marner Assist Foundation, a fantastic nonprofit in its sixth year of operation.

However, in terms of interviews, this year has been very distinct. No queries about #Leafs allowed.

This is the video of his hour-long interview with CTV.

“Today, Mitch Marner is touring the media in support of his Marner Assist Foundation, a fantastic nonprofit in its sixth year. However, in terms of interviews, this year has been very distinct. No queries about #Leafs allowed,” Alter posted on X.

In all fairness, Marner’s future remains uncertain. Though trade speculations have surfaced, Marner is still bound to the team for another season and has the option to remain in place until July 2025, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

NHL expert Chris Johnston predicts that Marner will walk as a free agent, which is what he thinks will happen.

“He probably walks a little bit more frequently than he signs an extension, but not by much. The favorite to walk as a free agent would be (he) walks if the betting lines were to be set right now. Then, I would advise re-signing the next favorite and trading the other three,” Johnston stated on the July 8 episode of SDPN.

“I don’t think they’ll give him the choice to stay either. The relationship is reciprocal.