‘I’ve Heard He’s Appeared Dynamite With (Sidney) Crosby And (Nathan) MacKinnon As Linemates At This Vail Camp’: Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner Reportedly Coaching with Pair of NHL Stars in Colorado

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September 7, 2024

Toronto Maple Leafs star winger Mitch Marner, who has been topic to appreciable criticism this offseason, is ramping up his preparations for the upcoming 2024-25 season in a big approach.

As he heads into the ultimate 12 months of his six-year, $65.41 million contract with the Leafs, Marner is reportedly coaching alongside two of the NHL’s greatest stars – Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon – at a mini camp in Vail, Colorado.

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Throughout the newest episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast on Friday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman shared insights into the coaching session and Marner’s work ethic this summer time heading right into a contract 12 months.

“To start with, I perceive that he has taken his summer time extraordinarily severely,” Friedman instructed co-host Kyle Bukauskas. “He is aware of that is all hovering round him, and he has been decided to have the very best summer time he can to be prepared. Second, I imagine he’s in Vail this weekend with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.”

32 Ideas Friday information & info podcast. We undergo each workforce. Lotsa tidbits. Nice enhancing work from @CamJBarra, pinch-hitting for Dom. Again subsequent Friday, then returning to our common Monday/Friday schedule.

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— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 6, 2024

“At occasions I perceive he has been on a line with them, we’ve talked on this pod earlier than that at a earlier BioSteel camp, he performed with MacKinnon as linemates and MacKinnon’s an enormous fan,” mentioned Friedman. “I’ve heard he’s regarded dynamite with Crosby and MacKinnon at this Vail camp, which I imagine is run by Andy O’Brien. I’m actually curious to see this. I believe he’s taken this summer time very, very severely.”

Marner’s offseason focus appears to mirror the significance of the approaching season, each for his private efficiency and his future with the Leafs. The 27-year-old has been a pivotal piece of Toronto’s offense since 2016, nonetheless, together with his contract set to run out, hypothesis has mounted about his long-term future in Toronto. Noting that contract negotiations are by no means straightforward, Friedman acknowledged the challenges that lie forward within the potential upcoming course of.

“The entire contract factor, it’s by no means straightforward,” Friedman added. “And if you happen to’re asking me what one of the best factor is for the participant and the workforce, one of the best factor for the participant and the workforce is for everybody to return to their senses and discover a approach to make sure that he stays. However, I don’t even wish to put a share down if that’s going to occur.”

Within the 2023-24 common season, Marner performed 69 video games, tallying 26 objectives and 59 assists for 85 factors. He added three factors (1G, 2A) in seven playoff video games in the course of the Leafs’ first-round sequence loss to the Boston Bruins.

Nonetheless, the previous fourth-overall decide is positioning himself to make a powerful case for a brand new deal – whether or not that deal will come from the Maple Leafs or one other NHL workforce stays to be seen. For now, Marner’s focus seems to be squarely on the upcoming season, and coaching alongside Crosby and MacKinnon may solely elevate his recreation even additional.