The Toronto Maple Leafs are now three games into the 2018-19 season and though things haven’t gone smoothly to this point the team is 2-1. Outstanding early performances from Auston Matthews—who was named NHL First Star of the Week—John Tavares and Mitch Marner have provided more than enough offense, including leading them to a 7-6 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. Those offensive performances though, impressive as they are, won’t make anyone forget about William Nylander and his ongoing contract negotiations with the team.
Nylander is still without a deal for this season and is coming up on a week of missed salary as he tries to secure his future earnings with a long-term deal. The young forward has told reporters that he has to think about his whole career, and there has been little to report between the two sides. When asked about it today on TSN radio, hockey insider Darren Dreger explained that the standoff could continue for some time:
Until they get into a real gritty type of negotiation, the stalemate isn’t going to end. One side is locked in in the low sixes, from what we understand, and the other side being Willie Nylander is still eight plus. Well that’s too wide a gap to get solved in three, four or five games. I think it might need a bit more time, unless Nylander just says ’Dad, I don’t want to hear from you for a while. Lewis Gross, you’re my agent, I need $6.4MM per year or I need this much on a bridge deal, go and get it done.’ That didn’t happen in the last day or so.
Dreger is of course referring to the reports that Nylander’s camp—which includes his father, Michael Nylander—is looking for an average annual value somewhere in the $8MM range on a long-term deal, while the Maple Leafs are more comfortable with a salary somewhere between $6-7MM. Neither side seems very interested in a bridge deal, though the possibility they come to terms on one just to get Nylander playing again does still exist.
The Maple Leafs have to tread carefully with these big contracts given the lack of cap flexibility they’ll be working with after signing Tavares to a seven-year $77MM deal this offseason, and the upcoming negotiations with both Matthews and Marner. The gap between asks for Toronto and Nylander is crucial cap space for the club going forward, and as long as they’re winning without him there is little incentive to cave to his demands. The deadline of course is December 1st, when restricted free agents must be signed by if they’re to play at all during the 2018-19 season.
Toronto will be back in action on Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars, but once again will hit the ice without one of their best forwards. While they wait for the Nylander situation to resolve itself, Kasperi Kapanen has taken up residence next to Matthews on the top line and found early chemistry with him on the weekend. There is little doubt that the team will continue to produce offensively in Nylander’s absence, but with the Boston Bruins and other Atlantic Division rivals off to solid starts the Maple Leafs would obviously rather have their full complement of players at coach Mike Babcock’s disposal.
move him for defense. this team has shown that they don’t lack offense without him but clearly still lack that strong shut down defenceman.
Honestly it doesn’t matter. William Nylander is not going to help that defense.
Bill Ny is a very good player, but how much of his counting stats came from playing with other great players?
$6.5ish seems very reasonable for his production/output.
That said, it’s his prerogative to get as much $$$ as he can, and its the Leafs prerogative to spend as little as they can (especially since they’re dealing with a hard cap).
Someone has to blink at some point. It’s too bad that there isn’t an arbitration process to help parties come together.
To Carolina for Justin Faulk and picks.
I don’t think a player who is an avg of -21 over the last 4 years will help the Leafs. Leafs should call up Anaheim and see if they can get Manson and a pick or even look at a package for Richie and Manson. upgrades your defense, gives the Leafs a promising young player looking to make in the 4 million dollar range that can play wing or centre.
I agree with your trade. Nylander, Gardenier, Jeremy Bracco and a 3rd for Richie and Mason
I’d rather have Trouba at $6.5M
Guys – I’ve said before and I’ll continue to say it. Nylander is now the 4th or even 5th best player on the Leafs offense. Both Marner and Matthews have had better output than he has the last two years and both of them saw reduced games due to injuries and still beat his ass! Tavares and Marleau are better than Willie and he’s just not going to get Eichel or Matthews money! But he could have have a Cup before he’s 25 and a career that would make him a virtual lock as an all-time Leafs great if he’d stop being a baby and take a deal! Hell take 6.5M for 3-years, get a cup and you’re still in your mid 20’s and can go elsewhere for more!
Otherwise I’d trade his ass for a solid D-Man!
He needs to be a man and stop letting his dads ego get in his way of signing.
If that doesn’t happen. I’m sure plenty of teams will offer a lot to get him. Top four Dman and a first round pick should do the trick.
If he signs a 3 year deal, he’d be lucky to get 5 million per year. There’s no incentive for Leafs to give him 6.5. He’d be a FA at the conclusion of 3 year deal. Nonsense!