Although John Tavares might be holding onto a glimmer of hope that Mitch Marner returns to the Toronto Maple Leafs, he's being realistic about the situation.

Now that the Toronto Maple Leafs have locked John Tavares in for another four years, all eyes have shifted to fellow forward Mitch Marner, who is set to hit the free-agent market on July 1. Tavares, speaking after announcing his own four-year extension with the Maple Leafs,

TORONTO -- Mitch Marner is expected to test free agency come July 1, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said. "We've had communication," Treliving said Thursday. "I'd probably describe it [that] unless there is significant change here, I would anticipate he's going to hit the market.