The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed star winger William Nylander to an eight-year, $92 million contract extension, the team announced Monday
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the deal includes a full no-movement clause.
Friedman adds the deal includes $69 million in bonuses and that $27 million of the contract will be paid in the first two years.
“This has been home for me. This is the longest I’ve ever spent in one place in my entire life.” Nylander said to the Toronto media. “It’s funny, the other day I was talking to a friend and I said ‘and then we go home’ referring to Toronto, without even thinking about it.
“This is home.”
The contract — which begins next season — carries an AAV of $11.5 million and is the largest contract in Maple Leafs history by total value.
Nylander was picked to lead the stretch at practice after the deal was announced Monday.
The 27-year-old, who would have become an unrestricted free agent this summer, bet on himself this year and it paid 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 Saturday’s win over the San Jose Sharks, 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 the opening two months of the 2018-19 season.
Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving was happy to get the deal done
“I don’t think there was ever a time where we felt we weren’t going to get to the finish line…. The player ultimately wanted to be here. We wanted the player. So, you find a way.” said Treliving. “I know how hard it is to get talent…. Every dollar matters because we live in a cap world.
“So, you folks can all debate it — and I’m sure it will be hotly debated — but at the end of the day, when you can get a top player signed, it’s a good day.”
With Nylander and Auston Matthews now under new 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.
The Leafs selected Nylander eighth overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. He had a career-high 87 points (40 goals, 47 assists) last season.