Teams have called the Maple Leafs about Nylander, but they aren’t shopping him. Contract talks are progressing
Gord Miller: Spoke with some people around the league yesterday who believe that Shea Theodore’s seven-year contract at a $5.2 million salary cap hit should help the Maple Leafs in their contract impasse with William Nylander. One GM said: “Theodore was #2 in ice time for a team that went to the final. Is Nylander worth more than that?”
Maple Leafs Hot Stove: Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas was on Sportsnet 590’s Prime Time Sports yesterday. William Nylander’s restricted free agent status was a hot topic of discussion.
Dubas said that contract talks with Nylander’s agent Lewis Gross continue as they try to find a fair that that fits into their short-term and long-term plans.
When asked if a bridge deal may only be the only way to get a contract done, Dubas said:
“I don’t think so. I think that that has been what a lot of people have been intimating — that that’s the only way it does get done. I think their camp has been focused on a long-term deal and ours as well. I think a bridge for both of us would probably be the sub-optimal solution to this. We continue to work primarily on long-term deals with Lewis, and he has been excellent in getting back to us and sharing his philosophy and how he does it.”
Dubas feels that they are making progress on getting a deal done and adds “I am confident. I am optimistic. It just may not meet the timeline that everyone wants.”
Teams have called the Leafs about Nylander, but Dubas says they are “not shopping him.”
“I think the teams that have called us have more wanted to say, “Hey, how’s it going? If it ever gets to that point that it’s not going to work out, then let us know.” But it is not even close to that, and it won’t be. We will be able to find a way through it.”