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Maple Leafs sign William Nylander to last-second 6-year extension
It’s finally over. Willy is coming home.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander have agreed to a six-year contract extension with an average annual value of $6.96 million.
The months-long stand-off between Nylander’s camp and Maple Leafs management came to a dramatic conclusion, as TSN’s Darren Dreger reported the signing at 4:57 p.m. EST — three minutes before the restricted free agent signing deadline.
The Nylander extension was filed at 4:55 p.m. ET. #NylanderWatch
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) December 1, 2018
If the 22-year-old didn’t have his shiny new contract inked and approved by the league by 5 p.m. EST, he would’ve been ineligible to suit up for Toronto, or any NHL team, this season.
The structure of the deal shapes up like this:
First year salary is pro rated $10M salary (6.77 M) plus a full $2M signing bonus. Net number of $8.77M. AAV of $10.2M.
In out years, the AAV is $6.996M.
In year two, base salary is $700K, SB of $8.3M.
In remaining years, $2.5M in base salary plus $3.5M SB.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 1, 2018
The deal ended up falling right in the range many expected it would, with a term of six years and the AAV just under $7 million per.
Nylander put up 61 points in each of the last two seasons with Toronto, and will likely slot right back alongside Auston Matthews on the team’s top line.
He’ll join an already-thriving lineup as the Maple Leafs sit just one point behind the Lightning and Sabres for top spot in the Eastern Conference.
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