Toronto Maple Leafs: If You Happen To Have Time, Use It

The Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander have yet to come to terms on a new contract.

As a result, salary cap anxiety has emerged as the theme of the summer. Speculating on future deals for the Big Three is a godsend for sports outlets (and one three-letter network in particular), gifting them hours upon hours of easy content to fill the dog day void.

It’s funny, really. If you’ve ever sought out an accurate encapsulation of a Leafs fan’s underlying mental state, open your Twitter machine and search “Leafs” and “extension”.

The hand-wringing is palpable. Unrelenting, even in the face of context.

This team has burned its base so many times over the years that fans have begun resigning themselves to the worst-case scenario as a defence mechanism, ingrained deep within them.

Minutes, literal minutes, after landing the biggest free agent in modern NHL history, focus quickly shifted from “oh my god we got Tavares!” to “now that we have him, who needs to go?”

“I mean, we can’t possibly have FOUR star players all at once! It is the Leafs, after all.”

When asked how he plans on retaining his young phenoms, Kyle Dubas responded with a now iconic answer in, “we can and we will”. Normally, that should have been enough.

Not only did the general manager appear on Canada’s biggest hockey podcast to confirm his intentions of signing Toronto’s young core long-term, he definitively committed to doing so in a remarkably candid manner.

What else do you need?

There’s no ambiguity here, no wiggle room for clickbait. The guy responsible for making this decision looked the hockey world dead in the eyes and said, “this is the decision I will make”.

Willy’s not going anywhere.

Want to know why Nylander remains without a contract? Well, because it’s still a month out from training camp and he doesn’t actually need one yet. The same applies to the Leafs. They don’t need to act at this time. Therefore, they won’t.

The optics of Lou Lamoriello’s tenure in Toronto may be publicly divisive upon reflection, but one indisputable accomplishment Lou achieved at the helm was a fundamental impact on how this team does business.

I’m not referring to rules on facial hair or low sweater numbers either, rather a modus operandi Lou instilled behind the curtain from day one.

Remember the Dave Nonis era? The brain trust who stored information like a sieve stores water? Those leaks halted abruptly upon Lou’s arrival, as the Leafs transitioned themselves into media’s Fort Knox. This secrecy is visible in all facets of operation, nowhere more so than in contract talks, which the Leafs have since played incredibly close to the chest.

It goes without saying that Lou’s methods have influenced the way Dubas will operate as GM. Working under someone for three years tends to do that. And while Dubas certainly plans on charting his own distinct path, that doesn’t mean it’ll happen with a blind eye turned to the lessons former boss taught him.

For example, reports indicating that an Auston Matthews extension entered the negotiation phase surfaced last week, albeit with the scoop coming directly from Matthews himself. The team, on the other hand, has revealed no information of the sort following Dubas’ appearance on 31 Thoughts.

That’s intentional.

Here we find the crux of Lamoriello’s influence. Repeatedly, Dubas has identified one particular manta Lou imparted upon him in their time together that he’ll carry forward, applying specifically to the case at hand.

“If you have time, use it”

Bingo.

The Leafs are blessed with time to negotiate Nylander’s next deal. Time of which, shockingly, intend to use. This isn’t to say they’re playing hardball with the kid. Rather, Dubas & co. will take advantage of all available resources to ensure this situation culminates in a manner of mutual benefit for both parties.

Nylander is vital to the Leafs’ future success, meaning signing him is a decision capable of influencing roster composition for years to come.

How many life-altering decisions do you rush into making? For your sake, hopefully few.

The reality, as harsh as it may be, is this; the Leafs don’t care about your feelings.

When the Nylander extension is completed, it’ll have been done on no one’s terms but the Leafs’, regardless of how flooded Dubas’ mentions inevitably get. A lack of August news has no bearing on this negotiation, nor should it. These take time, with the Leafs content to use as much of it as they please.

So, relax. Enjoy your summer.

Come training camp, the Nylander anticipation will be gone, Tavares will be a Leaf, and the world will still be spinning. Anxiety will wash away as this fanbase collectively returns to its favourite endearing pastime; clowning on the Senators.

Doesn’t that sound great?

Thanks for reading!