The GIST: Confirming the rumors, long-time Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander has signed an eight-year, $92M contract extension, setting a new record for the team’s biggest total value payday. The deal, with an average annual value (AAV) of $11.5M, will come into effect next season.
The context: Currently placed third in the Atlantic Division, the Leafs are seeing a strong performance from Nylander, who leads the team in points (54) and comes second in goals (21) after center Auston Matthews, the NHL’s highest-paid player by AAV.
Looking at his current performance, Nylander is on track to surpass the career-highs he achieved last season, tallying 40 goals, 47 assists, and 87 points in 82 games.
The salary cap implications: With Nylander and Matthews secured on colossal extensions, Toronto’s Core Four (including captain John Tavares and right winger Mitch Marner) will account for approximately $47.75M next season. The NHL salary cap is expected to rise to $87.7M, leaving the Leafs with around $23M in cap space for the upcoming year.
