Nylander wants stay in Toronto long term

William Nylander made it clear he wants to stay in Toronto for the long haul.

Now it’s up to the restricted free agent’s representatives and Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas to make it happen.

Nylander said Wednesday at a charity ping-pong tournament in Toronto his preference is to sign long term with the Leafs rather than ink a shorter deal.

“Of course I want long term,” the 22-year-old said. “That’s what I want to do, but we’ll take it slow, day by day, and see what happens.”

Nylander is the first of the Leafs’ three young stars — Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are the others — to hit restricted free agency after playing out his entry level contract. The slick winger has put up back-to-back 61-point seasons and has 48 goals and 87 assists in 185 career games.

Matthews and Marner, who were allowed to start formal contract negotiations at the beginning of last month, both said recently they were already in talks with the Leafs ahead of their third NHL seasons.

Sporting a summer beard and looking relaxed, Nylander said he isn’t thinking about the possibility of not having a contract by the time training camp opens in midSeptember.

“That’s between my agent and Kyle,” said Nylander, one of more than 20 NHLers on hand at Smashfest, a charity event that raises money for concussion and cancer research. “I’m waiting to see what happens. They’re going to negotiate it, so I don’t think that will be a problem.”

Nylander does, however, see a problem for opposing teams matching up against the Leafs after the club signed star centre John Tavares to a massive freeagent deal.

“He’s a great player and I think it will be lots of fun.”