While all eyes around the Toronto Maple Leafs right now are on William Nylander and his ongoing contract negotiations, there is also now the possibility of long-term extensions for Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Both star forwards have been eligible for an extension since July 1st, but haven’t been in the spotlight much after the team signed John Tavares in free agency and still has not reached an agreement with Nylander for the upcoming season. Now, while sitting down with Bob McKenzie of TSN, Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas admitted that those extensions may not get done before the season.
I wouldn’t say it’s all too likely. We’ve had good discussions with all of them, with both Mitch and Auston and their people. These are the types of things that because there’s no real immediacy to it—they both know they have another year on their contract, everyone’s excited for the season—it’s been a very patient process on all parts. That’s more from the team that it is from the players. We believe that if a player is going to commit that long to a team on a long-term agreement, that we want them to be fully comfortable and aware of what they’re getting into.
Dubas went on to explain how his team would always be willing to negotiate in-season, but understands if the player doesn’t want that distraction as they’re trying to perform to the best of their abilities. That likely means that the two sides would have to come together next offseason and hammer something out, a tact that could end up costing the Maple Leafs even more.
There is little reason to believe that Matthews or Marner will take steps backwards this season given their individual talent and the expected improvement to the team. If they head into negotiations with new career highs, or even just a third season at the level they’ve been at their demands may increase. That said, both players would likely already be looking at huge contract extensions in any negotiations this summer, with players like Jack Eichel and Leon Draisaitl as potential comparables.
Dubas again seemed confident that all three of the Maple Leafs’ young stars will be with the club long-term, even going so far as to suggest the team try to keep them for their entire careers. While many have wondered how they’ll fit everyone in under the salary cap now that John Tavares is in town making $11MM per season, the young GM obviously has a plan in place. Nylander is the next step on that plan, and needs a contract in the next week or will be in danger of missing the start of training camp.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
So, is Nylander not under contract for the upcoming season?
That is correct. He is a restricted free agent. He has no contract currently and can only (mostly) negotiate with the Maple Leafs.
I’m not sure how the Leafs can keep Mathews, Marner & Nylander on big contracts with Tavares already earning 11 million per season. If the Leafs do that, it will hinder their efforts to put a solid team around them. The Blackhawks have found this out & the Oilers are starting to experience it. The Leafs are still going to need to add a high end d-man at some point. I know they are high on their young d-men, but if they want to win sooner rather than later, they aren’t going to be able to wait for them to develop into top pair d-men. That means they will have to acquire one & that is going to cost them. I’m not sure keeping all Tavares, Mathews, Marner & Nylander on large contracts is the best way for the Leafs to remain contenders going forward. One of Mathews, Marner & Nylander may need to be moved. Nylander is an obvious candidate for that right now, but I wonder what the Leafs will do next season if they find themselves in a contentious negotiation with Mathews.