Toronto Maple Leafs: Nylander Contract Extension Won’t be Cheap

The Toronto Maple Leafs will have an opportunity this off-season to sign William Nylander and Auston Matthews to contract extensions one year before their contracts expire.

On December 1st, 2018, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed William Nylander to a six-year contract with a $6.9 million salary cap hit.

Since then, he has had three 30+ goal seasons. The 2022-23 season is his career-best, with 40 goals and 47 assists for 87 points in 82 games. Compared to other contracts around the NHL, Toronto is getting Nylander at a bargain for $6.9 million. He will be seeking much more on his next deal. (Stats from hockey-reference.com)

On March 1st, 2023, the Detroit Red Wings signed Dylan Larkin to an eight-year contract extension with an $8.7 million salary cap hit. Larkin’s stats over the past two seasons have been decent but not as good as Nylander’s.

To his credit, Larkin is a center, and he is Detroit’s captain. Centers usually get paid more, but his new cap hit is in the area where Toronto can expect Nylander’s asking price to be. Somewhere between $8.5 million and $9.5 million would be a good guess.

Nylander’s contract extension would begin in the 2024-25 season. The same goes for Matthews. The Toronto Maple Leafs have $51.2 million available in projected cap space for that season. However, they only have eight roster players signed for that season. It will be no surprise to see Matthews earn top dollar when the time comes, but how much is Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas willing to give to Nylander? Will Dubas still be the GM in Toronto? He is currently unsigned beyond this season.

Toronto Maple Leafs Hoping Salary Cap Has Big Increase Soon

According to capfriendly.com, the NHL salary cap is expected to rise from $83.5 million in 2023-24 to $87.5 million in 2024-25. Before the 2024-25 season begins, Toronto can sign Mitch Marner to an extension. In the first year of his new deal, the salary cap is expected to be $92 million. Dubas will need to consider that when re-signing Matthews and Nylander.

These salary cap numbers could change depending on how much revenue the NHL generates. For Dubas and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the higher the number, the better. Some wonder if Dubas can afford to keep all three players. He did it once, so why not twice? His job will be easier so long as the salary cap continues to rise at a $4 million or higher pace.

Right now, paying Nylander around $9 million seems like a lot. However, just like his $6.9 million deal, it could look like a bargain a few years after he re-signs. There will be players making $10.5 million or more who produce less than Nylander.