The Toronto Maple Leafs finally got the most important business of the summer finished just the other day when they announced the signing of Auston Matthews to a four-year extension.
This signing is excellent for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It ensures that Matthews is a Leaf for the first 12 years of his career, and it’s at a number that is team-friendly for the second-best player alive. After four years, they can make sure their best player is paid fairly for the final big contract of his career.
That’s great and all, but now it’s time to sign William Nylander.
Toronto Maple Leafs: That’s Great About Matthews, Now Do Nylander
William Nylander cannot be traded.
Based on what Ottawa got for the younger Alex DeBrincat, trading Nylander would be pretty dumb. What are the Leafs – who are trying to win a Stanley Cup – going to want with a first round pick or a B-level prospect?
Even a high first and an A-prospect doesn’t help too much because Nylander is an elite player and that makes him impossible to replace.
If Nylander wants ten million, then give him ten million. Who cares?
Paying star players doesn’t prevent teams from competing, it ensures that they can.
No amount of depth can replace a star player, and despite the nauseating debates over small amounts (relative to the NHL) of money are ridiculous.
The Leafs paid David Kampf over $2 million. They gave Max Domi $3 million.
Odds are, neither player is worth more than 900K. Therefore, those are the contracts to be upset about, not whether Nylander gets paid what he deserves or not.
In fact, if you actually consider how much star players help compared to other players, $10 million is likely an underpay for what Nylander will bring to the table.
He wants to play here.
The team should just shut up and pay him.
Arguing with your best player is silly. Losing him in free-agency is not an option.
Ten million for eight years would be a great contract for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and it’s one Nylander would probably jump at. Unlike Matthews, he doesn’t need to be the top paid player, he just needs to see some respect.
He took $4 million less than Marner on his last deal, and he’s maybe only a $1 million less valuable.
It’s great the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Auston Matthews. But now it’s time to sign Nylander.