Leafs expect Nylander to take less
TORONTO — Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan says the team expects its star players to make financial sacrifices to be part of what’s hoped will be a long championship window in Toronto.
And that begins with the stillunsigned William Nylander.
Speaking on Wednesday, Shanahan reflected on his three Stanley Cup victories with the Detroit Red Wings as personal proof that taking a little less money can be worth it in the long run.
“When I get together with some of my old mates from the Cup years in Detroit ... we talk about winning together and growing together, and that’s what we remember,” said Shanahan, who won the Cup with Detroit in 1997, 1998 and 2002 in the pre-salary cap era. “We all found a way to fit with each other so that we could keep adding to the group. That’s obviously what we’re asking some of our young leaders to do.”
A restricted free agent with little leverage, the 22-year-old Nylander and the Leafs have been unable to agree on a new contract, with the slick winger
(21 goals, 40 assists last season) remaining in Sweden.
“(Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas) and I have the same vision for what we want to continue to build here and make it sustainable,” Shanahan said.