Kyle Dubas provided an update on negotiations with Matthews, Marner

BarDown Staff

Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images

The All-Star break is right around the corner and the Leafs have one more game before the break Wednesday night at home against the Capitals. Toronto has been struggling as of late, but a win against the defending Stanley Cup champs going into the break would be huge.

The break also brings a lot of talk about off-ice matters such as trades and contract negotiations, and on Tuesday general manager Kyle Dubas gave an update to the media on the possible extensions for Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

Dubas having "healthy dialogue" on extension for Auston Matthews. Referenced Marner's agent's public stance they don't want in-season negotiation: "Those are very big personal decisions for those players and I don’t want it to come off as we’re putting pressure on them to [sign]"
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) January 22, 2019

Marner's agent has made it clear that they don't want to negotiate in-season, but we're sure it's comforting for Leafs fans to know that there's a "healthy dialogue" between Matthews' camp and the team.

Further to that update, Dubas also discussed the team's recent rough stretch and William Nylander's struggles since signing his deal and returning to the NHL.

Dubas happy w/ how #Leafs battled through key losses: "They’ve earned the right for us to explore ways we can continue to make the team better. We’re trying to do that & if there are things that are fair that fit for us in the short and long term, we’ll continue to explore that"
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) January 22, 2019

Dubas said #Leafs told Nylander he wouldn't be his old self overnight: "We have to remain patient & he has to continue to stick to his own development plan. He’s done that, he works very hard, he’s a very good young person. I’ve got a lot of faith he’ll work himself out of it"
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) January 22, 2019

(H/T: Kristen Shilton)