NHL Rumors: Nylander Getting Into Marner Territory For Next Contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to have more to worry about than initially anticipated with William Nylander regarding a new contract as his very strong play keeps raising his value.

Darren Dreger said that Nylander is probably getting up to Mitch Marner territory for his next contract. That would mean Nylander's play will have earned him a $5 million AAV increase from his current contract.

Nylander has been just as good or better than Marner and Auston Matthews this season. Nylander leads the team in goals with 22 and has a three-goal lead over the next closest player on the team (Matthews, 19). The Swede also sits one point behind Matthews and Marner in points this season, occasionally taking the team lead in points.

Though Nylander's play helps the Maple Leafs this season and possibly next, there have been rumours that the team could even trade him before next season if there is no progress on a Matthews' extension. Nylander and Matthews' contracts are both up at the end of next season and they both become UFAs. Marner and John Tavares' contracts are then up the season after that.

The Maple Leafs are discussing locking Michael Bunting up long-term which will require even more cap. It almost seems inevitable that Nylander won't be a member of the Maple Leafs for much longer.