Bob McKenzie Hints At Mitch Marner's Maple Leafs Future Amid Contract Rumors

The Maple Leafs forward has been one of the NHL’s top playmakers again this season, with 16 goals and 55 assists for 71 points in 55 games. Marner ranks fifth in total points in the NHL while sitting third in the top-assister ranks for the season.

Marner is also coming off winning the 4 Nations Face-Off with Canada, where he assisted Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid's game-winner goal against Team USA on Thursday.

Despite Marner’s postseason struggles and the concerns about it, McKenzie said that, if he was in Toronto's shoes, he'd still try to extend the winger. 

“Players like Marner are difficult to come by, and if you don’t do well in the playoffs, you gotta keep working at it," McKenzie said. "I know Leafs’ fans don’t like to hear that, but I would try to sign him.”

Marner has a full no-trade clause and has not indicated any willingness to waive it at any point in the past.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman already reported on Feb. 10 that Marner remains undecided about his future and isn’t close to making a final decision.

"Unless there’s something going on that I’m not seeing right now, which is always possible, I don’t sense Mitch Marner is anywhere close to making a decision," Friedman said.

If Marner reaches the open market, he is expected to command between $12.5 million and $16 million annually thanks to the reported salary cap increase starting next season.