William Nylander still not signed, but talks continue
Leafs say they have no intention of trading the young star
While his teammates wrap up their exhibition season with a home-andhome series against the Detroit Red Wings, Maple Leafs winger William Nylander remains on the outside looking in.
The Nylander camp and Leafs brass are at an impasse, though they have agreed to work toward a long-term deal. GM Kyle Dubas said Friday that he has no intention of trading the restricted free agent, calling Nylander too important a player to the program.
“I’ve been asked: ‘Do you want to trade him right now?’ And the answer is, ‘No,’ ” Dubas told the Star on Friday. “Circumstances can change. But it’s not in any plan or any discussion we’ve had that we’re going to trade any of these players.
“Our goal is to have them each develop and maximize their potential here.”
The Swedish right winger is believed to be asking for $8 million, with the Leafs countering at around $6 million. Dubas did not speak about specific numbers, but added that long-term deals can be difficult.
“With any player coming off of his entry level, it’s always: ‘Is it long term or is it bridge?’
“The long term is where both parties, our camp and their camp, have been focused on,” said Dubas. “Those ones are often the hardest ones to do, because they are a much bigger decision for the player, and a much bigger decision for the team.”
Nylander was drafted eighth overall in 2014 and was partnered with Auston Matthews on the Leafs’ top line the last two seasons.
The rise of Nylander, Matthews, Mitch Marner and other young players — like Connor Brown and Zach Hyman — helped raise expectations to the point where the Leafs are considered Stanley Cup contenders by many.
Dubas said the growth of the group is important and he wants to keep it intact.
“When you’re developing your own players and your own people, and they grow up as Toronto Maple Leafs and they help your program develop, those are the types of guys you want around long term,” said Dubas. “That’s just reality.
“That’s always been our goal.” The arrival of free-agent centre John Tavares has raised expectations further, but also changed the depth chart somewhat. It also took $11 million in annual salary-cap space, money that younger players might have thought would be spread among them eventually.
Matthews, Marner and defenceman Jake Gardiner are up for contract renewals. Gardiner will be an unrestricted free agent next summer; Matthews and Marner — like Nylander today — will be restricted free agents. Some believe Matthews could command up to $13 million annually and Marner $10 million, depending on how this season goes.
“Those discussions with their representatives are ongoing,” Dubas said.
“I know everybody would like everything to happen quickly, but there’s a process we go through. Would we like to have had it all sorted out and done on the first day? Yes, but I don’t think that’s realistic.”
It’s Nylander’s fortune — or misfortune — to be up now. As a restricted free agent, he does not have the right to a no-trade or no-movement clause in his next contract. So he has to trust Dubas that he won’t be traded. But there are no guarantees, Dubas said.
“Things happen in sports and athletics. So I don’t know that it puts our word on the line.
“But we have not shopped him around. We have done none of that whatsoever. Our goal is to keep him here long term and that’s what it will continue to be.”
With or without Nylander, Dubas has a great deal of faith in the team that he has assembled as training camp comes to its completion. Be it the addition of Tavares, the continued growth of Morgan Rielly and Nazem Kadri, or the veteran presence of Ron Hainsey and Patrick Marleau, Dubas believes his Leafs have what it takes to contend.
“We are excited about the season that is ahead. We should be,” Dubas said. “Obviously there are expectations. And people can say those can be daunting. What I say to the players is they have earned those expectations and they should be proud of it and they should enjoy it.
“That said, I think we have to earn the right to be called a contender. We haven’t won a playoff round. We were a wild-card team two years ago. We finished third in the division last year. Everyone says, ‘Well, it is all going to come down to the playoffs. But in order to set ourselves up well, it all starts in the regular season.”