According to a new report, the Toronto Maple Leafs recently extended an offer to Mitch Marner on a new contract that was shot down quickly by his camp.

In the midst of what has been a great season so far for him personally, and a great one for the team as a whole, there’s still a big question mark hanging over the head of Mitch Marner regarding his future with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Marner, who has been showing off his increased physicality lately, has 10 goals and 41 points in 31 games, while the Leafs sit atop the Atlantic Division.

That’s certainly cause for celebration, but there’s still the questions surrounding his next deal and his willingness to stay in Toronto, even if it means taking a bit less money.

On a recent episode of the JD Bunkis podcast, host JD Bunkis said the Maple Leafs recently made Marner an offer that was shot down by his camp.

“My understanding of what has happened with Marner is that, actually now, they have tried to extend him a number, and he’s the one, and his camp are the ones, that are actually saying ‘yeah, we’re actually going to wait on this thing and see how it goes. We might want to be the ones that hit free agency.'”

At $10.9 million per season, there are those who believe Marner is making exactly what he’s worth in the NHL.

The reality is, if he hits the open market, the bidding war will put him far beyond what he’s making now, and Toronto GM Brad Treliving and Marner’s camp know this.

If the Maple Leafs want to keep Marner around, and I have no doubt they do, letting him make it to free agency in July will be a huge mistake, because it will either drive the price through the root once the free agency offers begin to trickle in, or allow him to potentially walk and leave the Leafs with nothing.