Insider: Nylander/Leafs Talks Are “Delicate”, With 1 Key Factor To Consider

Extension talks continue to heat up between William Nylander and the Toronto Maple Leafs from all accounts, but as NHL insider Elliotte Friedman notes in his latest column for Sportsnet, multiple sources are telling him:

Everyone’s being very careful. No one wants to say the wrong thing. There’s a deal to be made, but things are ‘delicate’.

And that one delicate wild card factor that’s keeping everyone on their best behaviour at the moment, is former NHLer, and Nylander’s father, Michael.

“This is a unique negotiation because of Michael Nylander," writes Friedman. "Honestly, I feel gross writing it because I hate bringing up family when it comes to this stuff. But it is a factor and why everyone is so careful in discussing where things stand. He plays a major role in these conversations and William is very loyal (to his Dad), as you would expect.”

Though none of the principals in the negotiations are saying anything publicly at the moment, there is still a feeling that this is going to get done, and quickly, if all four sides are on board, says Friedman: "player, team, agent, family".

Another hockey insider, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, suggested today that the Leafs would like to have a deal done by the All-Star Break in Toronto, which runs Feb. 1st - 3rd. 

Recent reports suggest that the final numbers will be something in the range of 8 years and an AAV somewhere just north of the $11 million mark. That would put Nylander in the David Pastrnak range, 8 years at $11.25 million per. 

Now in his 9th NHL season, the 27-year-old Leafs winger certainly picked a good time to have the best year of his career, currently tied for 4th in league scoring, with 19 goals, 32 assists and 51 points—that’s a 116-point pace. Nylander cracked the 40-goal mark for the first time last season. 

Photo: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports