Leafs GM Kyle Dubas ‘hopeful’ of getting Marner contract done before July 1

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas says he’s optimistic the team and pending restricted free agent Mitch Marner will be able to come to an agreement on a new contract before July 1.

Speaking at the NHL scouting combine Friday afternoon, Dubas said the Leafs and Marner’s camp are much further along in the process than they were with William Nylander a year ago.

Also a restricted free agent, Nylander wound up missing the first two months of the 2018-19 schedule because of a contract stalemate before signing a new deal on Dec. 1.