Restricted free agent William Nylander is due for a raise, and he made it clear that he’s not looking for any sort of bridge deal.
The Swede recently participated in Dominic Moore’s ‘Smashfest’ ping pong tournament and although he stayed mum about his negotiations with the Leafs, Nylander insisted that he’s looking for a long-term contract.
After back-to-back seasons of 60+ points, there’s a strong argument to be made that Nylander’s wish should be granted after establishing himself as a coveted line-mate to Auston Matthews and a fan favourite in the city. There’s just one problem, though. With Tavares on lock at $11 million a year, and Matthews likely to sign an even larger deal than that in the next year, keeping Nylander might not be Kyle Dubas’ plans. Can’t forget about that Mitch Marner guy either, who could receive $7 million+.
In the meantime, Willie has been growing out his beard and seemingly not letting negotiations get in the way of his summer. It will be interesting to see what happens with him as Kyle Dubas continues to piece his blueprint together in Toronto.
