TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports William Nylander’s eight-year contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs is “imminent,” with an announcement coming perhaps as soon as Monday.
“Whether it’s today or tomorrow, latest by Wednesday, I expect the Leafs will announce that eight-year term and close to $11.5 (million) or $11.5 (million) right on the target for the AAV,” Dreger told TSN Radio 1050 Toronto Monday morning.
Nylander became an eligible for a contract extension in July and is currently slated for unrestricted free agency this summer.
The 27-year-old forward, who had two goals and an assist in Saturday’s win over the San Jose Sharks, has 21 goals and 54 points in 37 games this season and is on pace for career-best totals in both categories. He opened the season on a franchise record 17-game point streak.
Nylander posted a career-high 40 goals and 87 points in 82 games with the Maple Leafs last season. He added four goals and 10 points in 11 playoff games before the team was eliminated in the second round.
Playing out the last year of a six-year contract, Nylander carries a cap hit of $6.96 million this season. He signed that deal with then-general manager Kyle Dubas in 2018. After being unable to come to a contract agreement that kept him out of the Maple Leafs’ lineup to start the 2018-19 season, Nylander inked a deal worth a total of $45 million and carried a value of $10.2 million in the first season, but narrowed to $6.9 million in the years that followed. The deal carries a 10-team no-trade list this season.
Drafted by the Maple Leafs with the eighth-overall pick in the 2014 draft, Nylander has scored 198 goals and recorded 484 points in 558 regular-season games.