Marner doubles down on his ‘love’ of being a Maple Leaf

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Mitch Marner’s future plans haven’t changed.

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Eligible since July 1 to sign a contract extension, the Maple Leafs winger on Wednesday reiterated what he said three months ago after Toronto was eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Boston Bruins.

“I’m not going to get in that too much today,” Marner said not long after Auston Matthews officially accepted the Leafs captaincy from John Tavares. “I’m just going to say that I love being here. I’ve said that from Day 1. I’m very fortunate, lucky to be a Maple Leaf. Today is about these two amazing people beside me.”

On May 6, in the final media availability for Leafs players before they went their separate ways for the summer, Marner said it “means the world” to play in Toronto and that it would be “a goal” to remain with the Leafs for the long term.

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Trade rumours regarding Marner swirled toward the end of June as the NHL draft approached. It came and went, though, with nothing more than hot air. Marner has done during the summer what his agent, Darren Ferris, has said his client would do: Prepare, as normal, for the upcoming season.

It’s a different situation than what Matthews was experiencing a year ago. The Leafs signed Matthews to a four-year extension last Aug. 23, one that kicks in this season. There hasn’t been an urgency, on either the side of the Leafs or that of Marner, to get an extension done before the puck drops this October, with free agency looming next summer.

Marner indicated that he and new Leafs coach Craig Berube have got off on the right foot. Marner chuckled when he was asked about the coffee-shop photo of him and Berube that went viral at the end of May.

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“That one was pretty funny to get out,” Marner said. “It was a little coffee shop in Etobicoke, there were only a couple people in there.

“Talking with Craig throughout the summer, he has been amazing. He’s bringing a great new mindset to the team. I’ve talked to a lot of people that have been under his coaching, and I’ve only heard great things.”

Marner spoke on the firing of Sheldon Keefe, which came less than a week after the Bruins ousted the Leafs. It didn’t take long for Keefe to be hired as the coach of the New Jersey Devils.

“Like every season (that doesn’t end well), every (team) has to look at something, and can decide on changing or not,” Marner said. “He was amazing when he was here, and we were fortunate to have him. We just didn’t get the job done with him. We wish him all the best in the future.”

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As for Matthews as his new captain? Marner, no surprise, is all for it, while maintaining his respect for Tavares.

“It’s an exciting day to be a Maple Leaf, an exciting day to be a Maple Leaf fan,” Marner said. “Johnny’s a top-notch pro. He has showed us that regardless of who you are, the work never stops, and it only gets harder, really. That’s where you’ve seen Auston really grow as well.

“We have so many guys in this locker room that we can really depend on and lean on. Auston is going to do amazing in this role, and he’s going to have a lot of help around him to support him.”

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