Mitch Marner is not unfamiliar with the spotlight that comes with playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but his contract status has amplified that pressure.
It has been one of the lingering storylines since the off-season and will continue until there is a resolution, which likely won't come anytime soon.
Knowing that questions about his status were going to be a dominant topic during training camp, Marner decided to get ahead of it the best he could.
"Obviously, there's going to be some contract questions, but I'm not here to talk about that," Marner told reporters at the time. "Like I said in the captaincy media availability, I'm very happy to be a Maple Leaf. It's an unbelievable privilege, but I'm not here to talk about (contract talks). I'm here to talk about the season and getting going."
While Marner hasn't really spoken about his future, his play has certainly done the talking so far this season.
The 27-year-old has 10 goals and 38 points in 27 games, which has him on pace for a career-best season. His play was instrumental especially when Auston Matthews was injured.
Leafs president Brendan Shanahan has always commended Marner's commitment to playing a two-way game and has been impressed with the dynamic forward's performance so far.
"He's playing exceptionally well, really not surprised. He's a fantastic player," Shanahan told Sporsnet's Kyle Bukauskas Monday at the NHL's Board of Governors meetings. "Anytime you have a guy that can create that kind of offence and also be not just one of your team's best defensive players but one of the league's best defensive players, makes them special."
Marner has been earning the trust of new head coach Craig Berube, averaging the most ice time among Leafs players at 21:40 per game.
When it comes to the way the Leafs have played this season, Shanahan believes the shift in the team's mentality started much earlier than when Berube arrived.
"I think that there was a shift that began to occur in our team last year," Shanahan said about what he's seen from the team. "Starting with Brad Treliving and an intentional shift in the style of play and I think over the course of this off-season he was able to enhance that with the acquisition of some really key guys, including a coaching change."
The Leafs have been fighting for first place in the division and have experienced strong stretches, with players embracing the challenge placed on them by the coaching staff.
While it has been encouraging, Shanahan believes that his team still has room to grow.
"I think the players are still adjusting and adapting," Shanahan explained. "I think the way we began to play last year, and now you bring into it more defensive responsibility, better structure, and better accountability from us as a group. I give Brad, all our scouts and our coaching staff credit for that.
"We've still got a long way to go. I'd like to get some of these injured guys back, but I've liked some of the signs we've seen, especially in the defensive end, the way our goaltenders have played, but we definitely have a long way to go."
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