Dubas 'hopeful' Marner will sign ahead of training camp

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas is optimistic about getting restricted free-agent forward Mitch Marner signed to a new deal before training camp begins Sept. 13.

“We’ve continued to have dialogue with (Marner's agent) Darren (Ferris) as recently as last week," Dubas said in an interview with TSN's Bob McKenzie.

Marner is among several talented restricted free agents that are still without contracts, and the 22-year-old has already said he "probably won't" attend training camp without a new deal.

Dubas said, "I would expect - in looking at it and looking at the history of these things - that some of it will start to shake loose, and we're certainly hopeful and we'll continue to work towards having (Marner) be one of those players that signs in the coming week."

Though the two sides have not been able to come to an agreement, Dubas said there's more incentive to get a deal done as the season approaches.

"I think the realism of the situation begins to near closer and closer, which is that if there is no contract, most players don't attend training camp," Dubas said. He added: "I think when missing time begins to become real, I think it changes the dynamics of the discussion quite a bit."

Last season, negotiations with forward William Nylander extended right to the Dec. 1 deadline, and the 23-year-old struggled to return to form. When asked if he's worried about a similar timetable for Marner, Dubas noted negotiations started much earlier this time and pointed out that Nylander wasn't willing to accept a short-term contract.

"The first discussion that I had with Darren was at the combine in 2018 about Mitch, and William, the first discussion that we had with Lewis (Gross, Nylander's agent), was at the draft a couple of months before ... I just think that they're very different situations," Dubas said.

The GM also joined Sportsnet's "Tim & Sid" on Tuesday, where he made it clear the club isn't interested in trading Marner.

"I don't think you ever want to go down that path, ever, with anyone in that regard," Dubas said. "Now, it's athletics and it's sports and anything can happen, but it's certainly not something we want to explore and we haven't."

The Leafs executive also downplayed concern about Marner potentially practicing with a Swiss club during the stalemate.

"I don't worry about that. … I don't think we're going to be moved by the Zurich Lions, frankly. No offense to the Zurich Lions," Dubas said.

Marner enjoyed a breakout season in his third NHL campaign, recording 26 goals and 94 points in 82 games. He became the youngest player in franchise history to break the 90-point mark.