Toronto Maple Leafs: Player-Friendly Deals Key to Extensions

Player-friendly deals by the Toronto Maple Leafs are the only way to early resolutions around the contract extensions for Auston Matthews and William Nylander.

Potential new contracts for Toronto Maple Leafs superstars Matthews and Nylander have garnered much attention since the end of last season.

Attention around them will continue until deals are reached.

Prepare to be inundated with more speculation and conjecture until new agreements are consummated because there are next to no reasons for either player to rush to sign a new deal.

Player-Friendly Deals by the Toronto Maple Leafs Are The Only Way to Swift Extensions for Star Players

Initial actions by new general manager Brad Treliving indicate a hardline approach concerning contract negotiations.

While he has rightfully disclosed little around talks with his stars, the Leafs’ arbitration offer to goaltender Ilya Samsonov was not overly generous.

Also, unless your name is Ryan Reaves, Treliving appears to have an allergy to multi-year contracts.

His early actions indicate he is not willing to commit to long-term deals that risk further salary cap issues for the Leafs. At the very least, it looks like he is taking a patient, prudent approach to deep-rooted investments.

This is fine, perhaps commendable, but previous extensions for Matthews, Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares contained many player-friendly elements such as high AAVs, no movement clauses, or shorter terms. Why should they accept less on new deals?

Plus, the more determined Treliving is to play hardball, the more he risks alienating his key players.

The most significant factor around these negotiations is control. The players have it, especially Matthews.

He boasts a resume where he can set his price. He is a Top 5 player league-wide with a collection of NHL hardware. He plays a valuable position and has turned into a consistent two-way performer. Also, he is entering his prime years. The best may still be to come.

Does he want to set a new market price for players of his ilk? Is it important to him how much he makes in relation to his peers? Only he can answer that.

Nylander is an ascending player, coming off a career-high in goals, assists, and points. He also has some enticing advanced stats. He is not out of line in asking to be paid based on his potential future performance.

He comes with more risk than Matthews. He offers little defensively and his reported asking price is a lot for a one-dimensional player.

The Leafs are justified if they are uncomfortable with Nylander’s contract wishes. Yet, if money and term are of utmost importance to Nylander, he can wait until next year’s free agency and likely find a team that will meet his demands.

In the cases of both Matthews and Nylander, the longer negotiations continue, the more leverage the players have.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, as a contending team with an impatient fan base, are unlikely to trade either. The return from a trade of either would be less than optimal.

The alternative is to let them leave in free agency next summer and gain cap space. Should that happen, Treliving would be vilified for letting his star players walk.

Conversely, there are a couple of factors that work in the Leafs’ favor and would help reach earlier agreements.

Perhaps, Matthews and Nylander are determined to remain in Toronto and want to quickly resolve their contract status. Maybe, they don’t want to deal with season-long questions about their situations.

It is more likely they wait it out. They have all the control.

Player-friendly deals by the Toronto Maple Leafs are the only option that will get Matthews and Nylander signed quickly. The players hold the hammer.

Giving in to the players and their demands for early contract settlements is a risky proposition for the Leafs, but it will be more precarious as time goes on.