The Toronto Maple Leafs and star winger William Nylander are closing in on a new eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of around $11.5 million, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday.
The contract — which would begin next season — will put Nylander among the highest-paid forwards in the NHL.
The 27-year-old bet on himself this season and it is going to pay off in a big way. He opened the season with a 17-game point streak and is among the top 10 in league scoring with 54 points in 37 games after notching two goals and an assist Saturday in a 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks.
After the game, Nylander was asked about the prospect of signing a long-term deal with the Maple Leafs.
"That would be a dream to stay here. I mean, to play for such an organization. And I call Toronto home. So I think that'd be a very special feeling," he said.
Nylander’s previous contract was a six-year, $45-million deal signed after a negotiation that cost him two months of games in the 2018-19 season.
With Nylander and Auston Matthews soon to be under contract, half of the team’s “Core Four” are signed long-term. The other two stars, Mitch Marner and John Tavares, are eligible for new contracts on July 1 and become UFAs after next season.
The Leafs selected Nylander eighth overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. He had a career-high 87 points (40 goals, 47 assists) last season.
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.