Nylander looking for long-term contract with Leafs

TORONTO — 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.

On hand Wednesday night to lend his support to the Smashfest ping-pong tournament, Nylander said his preference is to sign long-term with Toronto — a contract that could stretch as many as eight seasons — rather than ink a shorter bridge 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 deal.

The slick winger has put up back-to-back 61-point seasons, and combined for 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 National Hockey League 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 mid-September. “That’s between my agent and Kyle,” he said. “They’re going to negotiate it.”