William Nylander, Maple Leafs ink 8-year, $92-million extension

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It’s official: The Maple Leafs will have an eight-figure, multi-millionaires’ row after William Nylander’s new deal.

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As the Leafs took to the ice Monday, the club announced his eight-year contract extension with an AAV of $11.5 million US.

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When it kicks in next season, Nylander will join Auston Matthews, ($13.25 million), John Tavares ($11 million) and Mitch Marner ($10.9 million) at the top of the Leafs salary structure.

A deal of such magnitude also is expected to include a no-movement clause plus signing bonuses. The Swedish national told reporters on Saturday that he considers Toronto “my home,” with no intention on leaving.

Nylander did his part, picking up his strong playoff finish, leading the team in scoring through 37 games with 21 goals and 33 assists.

The 27-year-old and his principal agent, Lewis Gross, out-waited new general manager Brad Treliving’s summer overtures, presumably in the $10-million range.

But, as some have pointed out, the Vegas Golden Knights were the first team to win the Cup with a $10-million player in Jack Eichel and now Toronto has four.

There is some relief for Toronto in that the cap will rise to $87.7 million next year, but Nylander’s bump up from this year’s $6.9 million will eat that up, as will more for Matthews, with Marner and Tavares still at their max prior to negotiating new deals before the summer of 2025.

More to come…

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