When fellow 2018 restricted free agent Dylan Larkin signed his five-year, $30.5-million contract to remain with the Detroit Red Wings there was a sense that Toronto Maple Leafs RFA William Nylander’s new deal would be soon to follow.
According to the 22-year-old, however, anxious Leafs fans are going to have to wait a little longer.
“There is no extra pressure or urgency to get something done just because guys like [Larkin] sign,” Nylander told NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger Thursday.
Nylander says he feels at ease despite being without an actual contract in mid-August and training camp set to begin on Sept. 13 because taking their time with things was the plan Leafs GM Kyle Dubas presented with him in the first place.
“I’ve said all along that Kyle wanted to take things slow and I’m fine with that,” he said. “They’re going back and forth with my agent from what I hear. We’ll see what happens. They said it would take a while and I’m still not worried. When it gets done, it gets done.”
Last season Nylander had 20 goals and 61 points for Toronto, playing all 82 games.
When a deal does get done it could be for as long as eight years and probably worth more than Larkin’s $6.1-million AAV as Nylander has produced just five points less than Larkin has in their careers, but in 57 less NHL games played.
[relatedlinks]
