Might be reading too much into that tbh.
I honestly don’t think it says anytging significant either way. All this tells me is they just don’t want the Marner negotiations to be a public one this time around. I also think it’s a negotiation tactic to handle Ferris and put a little pressure on Marner’s camp to come in at a reasonable number if you want to be a leaf.
Well Lebrun had this to say in the Summer. Which somewhat contradicts what Marner has said about wanting to stay here:
Is It Time For the Maple Leafs to Move On From Mitch Marner?
Is It Time For the Maple Leafs to Move On From Mitch Marner?
Report: Preference From Mitch Marner's Camp to Start Season with Maple Leafs, John Tavares Doesn't Want to Go Anywhere
Marner and Tavares — UFA's on July 1, 2025 — can sign new extensions with the Maple Leafs this summer.
Nick BardenJun 4, 2024 7:00 AM EDT
If you're expecting the Maple Leafs to trade Mitch Marner this summer, it's possible that doesn't happen.
According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, the 27-year-old — eligible to sign an extension with Toronto on July 1 — is electing to see what lies ahead rather than attempting to get a deal done this offseason. His camp also isn't putting together a trade list.
"As I wrote a few weeks ago, the Marner camp, led by agent Darren Ferris isn’t putting together a list of teams for a potential trade. The focus for Marner, who has a full no-move clause, is on honoring the remaining year of his contract and seeing where things go from there," LeBrun wrote.
"That also means I don’t think there’s an appetite to talk extension come July 1. The preference from the Marner camp is to start the season and see how things go. Perhaps there are talks on an extension eventually, but I don’t believe there’s a strong desire to get into them this summer."