Insider puts a percentage on Nylander's likelihood to remain in Toronto
With all the talk over the summer regarding the contract negotiations with Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander, the way he has started the 2023-24 regular season makes it almost a foregone conclusion that the club needs to keep him around long-term. You can't let a player like that walk for free. You simply can't.
NHL insider Chris Johnston believes that both sides might be close to hammering out a deal since there is mutual interest on both ends. Johnston says that the Leafs know that Nylander doesn't want to play elsewhere and that whatever he can get on the open market, they can match because of that 8th year. He also gave the Leafs a rather confident percentage that getting a deal done:
"I don't think there's any reason to think Nylander won't sign an extension in Toronto. Here's the dirty secret of that negotiation in my opinion: The Leafs know he doesn't want to play anywhere else... What the Leafs could pay him over 8 years and what another team if he leaves on July 1st as a free agent can pay him is not really that different... I'm willing to say I would put it at least 90% odds Nylander is a Leaf next season."
Johnston is relatively positive that the two sides will find the right deal, so much so that he put a 90% chance that Nylander returns in a Maple Leafs sweater in 2024-25.
We've heard all the rumours ad nauseam that Nylander wants $10+ million, while the club is willing to go as far as $9 million. We've also seen a lot of his comparable counterparts signing long-term deals this summer that sets the tone for what the 27-year-old is worth for the long-haul.
If what Johnston says is true and that Nylander wants to remain a Maple Leaf then a 7 to 8-year deal is definitely on the horizon. Especially if the Leafs are willing and able to match what anyone on the open market is willing to offer.
Nylander has started off the 2023-24 season with 3 goals and 6 points in just 3 games. He is coming off of back-to-back career seasons in which he scored 34 goals and 80 points in 2021-22 just to top that with 40 goals and 87 points last season. As contract negotiations continue, look for Nylander to try and smash his previous highs this season as he remains a focal point in the vaunted Leafs offense.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 17 | 117 ANSWERS Insider puts a percentage on Nylander's likelihood to remain in Toronto Where will Nylander's AAV end up? | ||
| In the $8M-$9M range | 31 | 26.5 % |
| In the $9.1M-$10M range | 67 | 57.3 % |
| Over $10M | 19 | 16.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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