Jets’Morrissey, Oilers’Nurse, Leafs’Nylander still unsigned
Restricted free agents awaiting new contracts with camp 2 weeks away
Maple Leafs winger William Nylander has said he wants a long-term contract from Toronto. Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse indicated this week he doesn’t mind if he gets a bridge deal or one that stretches five, six or seven years from Edmonton.
While the Calgary Flames removed one name off the list of restricted free agents when they inked blueliner Noah Hanifin for six seasons on Thursday, a number of key young players remain unsigned with NHL training camps set to open in less than two weeks.
Along with Nylander and Nurse, Winnipeg Jets defender Josh Morrissey is still without a contract. The same goes for Buffalo Sabres forward Sam Reinhart, Anaheim Ducks winger Nick Ritchie, New Jersey Devils winger Miles Wood and Vegas Golden Knights defenceman Shea Theodore.
“Of course I want long-term,” Nylander said back in early August. “That’s what I want to do, but we’ll take it slow, day by day, and see what happens.”
Negotiations with a restricted free agent can be a delicate balancing act. The team wary of overpaying might want a shorter term to get a better read on talent before committing, while the player is often looking for a longer agreement and more security.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Nurse said when asked of his preference. “Either way, I’ve got a lot to prove still.”
In Nylander’s case, he had 20 goals and 41 assists in 82 games last season for Toronto, including the second-most points at even strength with 49 (15 goals, 34 assists). In 185 career games, the 22-year-old has 48 goals and 87 assists.
One comparable for Nylander could be Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers, also 22, who signed a seven-year, US$42-million deal last October after a 64-point campaign. His new contract kicks in for 2018-19.
Nylander has averaged 0.73 points per game in his career compared to 0.69 by Ehlers.
Nurse, 23, took a big step forward last season to lead the Oilers’ injury-riddled defence with 26 points (six goals, 20 assists), logging an average of more than 22 minutes of ice time over 82 games.
All told, Nurse has 14 goals and 33 assists in 197 career contests with Edmonton.
“It’s a funny process. It’s very educational,” Nurse said of the ongoing talks. “It takes time. I have a lot of faith I’ll be there at camp.
“There’s a lot guys that aren’t signed yet. It’s not just me,” Nurse noted. “It’s kind of weird how it’s gone. I’m just going to wait and see how it plays out.
“I know at some point I’ll be playing in Oilers colours.”
Morrissey, meanwhile, had seven goals and 19 assists in 81 games with 20:27 of ice time per night in 2017-18. The 23-year-old’s stock rose even higher in the playoffs as the Jets made it to the Western Conference final.
Hanifin’s new deal worth US$29.7 million over six years — with an annual value of $4.95 million per season — could be used as one of the measuring sticks for both Nurse and Morrissey, who finished his junior career with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets.