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Mitch Marner Takes a Different Approach Than Other Maple Leafs Free Agents

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated May 21, 2025 8:35 AM ET

Toronto Maple Leafs forwards John Tavares and Matthew Knies, who are set to enter free agency on July 1, have made clear they want to re-sign with the club.

Star winger Mitch Marner, meanwhile, separated himself from that approach, declining to commit to a return Tuesday as he met the media for end-of-season availability.

"It's so fresh," Marner said. "It's tough to really think about anything right now, about going forward and future-wise. I was hoping to be playing a hockey game tonight, and that's not the outcome. I haven't thought about anything."

When asked directly whether he wants to remain a Maple Leaf, Marner avoided a definitive answer.

Mitch Marner, asked if he wants to be a Maple Leaf next year: "I've always loved my time here. Loved being here."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 20, 2025

"Always loved my time here," Marner said. "I loved being here. Like I said to you guys the other night, I've been so grateful. I haven't processed anything yet. It's still so fresh."

The 28-year-old, who will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, was the only major Leafs free agent who didn’t express a desire to return to Toronto ahead of next season.

The Leafs drafted Marner with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2014 NHL draft. If Marner, who scored a career-high 102 points this season, doesn't return to Toronto and leaves in free agency, he'd do so having racked up 741 points in 657 regular-season games with Toronto, along with 63 points in 70 playoff matches.

Fellow forward and former captain Tavares said he was optimistic about working out a deal with Toronto's brass.

"I'm very optimistic that it can work out where I'm back," Tavares said. "I’ve expressed my desire to stay and wanting to make it work."

Meanwhile, Knies, a restricted free agent, was even more emphatic in his answer to whether or not he'd entertain signing a potential offer sheet elsewhere.

"I want to be here. I want to play here. That’s all that really matters to me," Knies said. "There’s really a chance to win here.

"I love playing in this city, I think it's a blast. There's really a chance to win here and the guys in the room to win."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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