Marner's goal to be with Maple Leafs 'for a long time'

TORONTO -- Mitch Marner wants to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs for a long time.

The 21-year-old forward, who leads the Maple Leafs in scoring with 63 points (20 goals, 43 assists), can become a restricted free agent on July 1. His future became a topic of conversation after center Auston Matthews signed a five-year, $58.17 million contract with Toronto on Tuesday.
Marner and his agent, Darren Ferris, have informed Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas that they don't want to negotiate during the season so that Marner can concentrate on on-ice matters.
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"It's always a business. But I grew up here, this is a place I've loved being a part of for the past two years and many more going forward," Marner said Wednesday. "But I mean, there's no rush. I think the Leafs know that. It will get done eventually. I think Kyle would tell you: All our goal here is to be a Leaf for a long time and win a lot of Cups.
"As long as I'm here for the next training camp, that's all that really matters."
Marner was asked about comments made by Ferris to the Toronto Star, in which the agent said the Maple Leafs had "lowballed" his client.
"Words are spun about things sometimes," Marner said. "Me and my family love it here. My agency loves it here. It's a great place to play hockey. We have a great management team here, we have a great team here, we all want, including myself, want to be here for a long time. I'm sure it will happen."
Ferris said Wednesday his comments were in reference to negotiations during last offseason, not now. He painted a far more optimistic picture of where things are headed.

"Things are positive," Ferris told NHL.com on Wednesday. "The dialogue's positive, the discussions are going in the right direction. We're not far off from when we left off a while ago. We last ended on a positive note.
"Kyle agreed with me to wait until the end of the season. It's Mitch's desire to wait because if it couldn't get done he didn't want the distraction during the season. He just wanted to play, help his team get in the playoffs and hopefully win a Stanley Cup.
"The dialogue's been positive, the discussions have been going in the right direction. Mitch will be a Leaf for a long time, I'm sure, and everything will work out."
The Maple Leafs (32-17-3), who play the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; SN, SN360, TVAS, NHL.TV), are in second place in the Atlantic Division, 14 points behind the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning and one point ahead of the third-place Montreal Canadiens.
Marner, taken by the Maple Leafs with the No. 4 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, said his teammate signing a contract has no impact on him and his hopes to help the Maple Leafs win their
first Stanley Cup since 1967
.
"Nothing's really changed," Marner said. "I'm just trying to focus on the season. I'll let Kyle and my agent talk. I've kind of told both parties that I don't really want to be informed until something is about to happen. Until then, I just want to help this team."