Contract talks between the Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander hit a snag, leading to concerns about the star player’s future with the team. according to NHL insider Chris JohnstonNegotiations are not progressing as expected, with the two sides having significant differences in contract requirements. Nylander has taken the step of fielding his own 10-team no-trade list, and some are wondering if general manager Brad Treleving might have to start checking in with teams that aren’t on it.
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During an interview on The CJ Show, Johnston explained that the Leafs and Nylander have different views on his value. The young forward firmly believes he’s worth a contract in the $10 million range or a little higher, while the Leafs’ bid is down about $8 million.
Both sides are still working things out, but the implication is that meeting the middle may not be an option.
What is Nylander worth?
In fact, Neylander may actually be worth what he’s asking. Depending on his production level and potential cap, $10 million per season is about 12% of his current salary cap. When the cap jumps, its value will be much lower than that. Star players get between 10% and 15% of the cap, so in a few years, if the cap is at around $95 million, Nylander’s $10 million would equate to about 9.5%. That’s fair, especially if he’s upping his production, which he has good odds of doing.
The problem with the Maple Leafs is that they can’t give everyone a fair piece of the pie and the organization will have to make tough decisions. They certainly can’t meet the requirements of his contract if he’s trying to do it on a short-term deal and hit the Maple Leafs again in four years when the cap could realistically be closer to $100 million. Hoping that Nylander and Auston Matthews see the value in being part of this team, they want him to scrape a little bit off the top to make the deal work.
Nylander didn’t seem to want to play ball
This discrepancy in the evaluation of the contract raised doubts about a quick resolution of the ongoing dispute. NHL insider Elliott Friedman expressed his skepticism before free agency began, highlighting Nylander’s history of pushing negotiations to deadlines and his family and agent’s reputation for not backing down.
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The situation was further complicated by recent signings by the Maple Leafs, including John Klingberg, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Max Domi, which showed the team trying to improve and create a new identity but also resulted in the team exceeding the salary cap. This puts added pressure on the organization to find a solution that matches its financial constraints, and there are now questions about whether Nylander fits into that new culture Treliving is talking about.
What is the most likely outcome here?
As negotiations continue, so does the uncertainty surrounding Nylander’s future in Toronto. Fans and analysts are eagerly awaiting updates, hoping to come up with a solution that bridges the gap and satisfies both player and team. The outcome of these discussions will have major implications for the Maple Leafs roster and their plans for the upcoming season.
As for what seem like the most likely outcomes, it really depends on the player. As he watches the team improve more deeply, Nylander needs to decide if he wants to be a part of what is being built by the new GM, or if he’s ready to move on and get another million or two each season somewhere else. If he does, the Leafs will immediately shift their focus to potential long-term deals for Bertuzzi and others. In the short term, if forced, Treliving could potentially focus on moving Nylander to a defensive lineman.