This Will Be HUGE For The Toronto Maple Leafs After The William Nylander 8 Year Contract Extension

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Tyler Ball
January 7, 2024 (5:31 PM)

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Today a new piece of information has been discovered that adds a new layer to the massive extension that has been reported as almost done between William Nylander and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

New Information Adds A Huge New Layer To The Nylander Extension

Today a new report has added some much-needed context to what the William Nylander extension means for the future of the Maple Leafs.

A major move that could be made involves the contract of John Tavares. When discussing John Tavares' future in Toronto beyond his current contract a comparable of Joe Pavelski is used.

So talking about the John Tavares next contract, I like to compare it to, uh, the Joe Pavelski contract when he left the Sharks and went to the Dallas Stars. And I think this is pretty comparable, but we can discuss it. So if you guys see here. So Pavelski, when he left the Sharks, had a three-year deal with the Stars for just in around 7 million.

So John Tavares, as you guys can see, he is 33. So this time next year, when he's eligible for the extension, we'll see what happens. But he's a September baby. So by the time he actually signs 34, and then by the time the contract actually kicks in, he might not be. Well, he'll basically be turning 35. So you have to basically look at it as like, uh, he's one year ahead of Pavelski when he signed his contract, or at least in around the same.

So if you're comparing it that way, I mean, Tavares could earn up to 7 million from his 11 million. So that's a $4 million discount. I don't think it's going to be that much. I think Tavares is going to take a bit of a discount. I've seen a lot of people think.

With Tavares inked in at a $4 million discount, the Maple Leafs would still have a solid amount of flexibility. The only problem would be the fact that the Maple Leafs would be extending Tavares into his 40-year-old season.

It's going to be as low as like three or 4 million per. I wouldn't go that far. I think somewhere between four and 6 million on somewhere of a three to five-year term. So, for example, if it's like a five-year term and he's signing that basically when he's 35 or is kicking in when he's 35, that takes him to 40 years old.

So if that's taking him to 40 years old, he's a Leaf for life. He's retiring a Leaf. I could see him signing for like, I don't know. Ryan O'Reilly just signed for four and a half million, right? I could see it somewhere around there, like a four and a half times five or maybe up to a five times five if he's going on the lower end of things. I could also see it being like a three-year deal for 6 million. Or a four-year deal for five. And a half million. I really think that's where we're going to see Tavares.

I think when you look at Tavares's. Career up to this point, I mean, he's been pretty consistent. Like, you see the point per game, right? Even this year, as I'm recording this, 35 games, 32 points last year, 80 games, 80 points the year before, 79 games, 76 points the year before, 56 games, 50 points, 63 games, 60 points, and 82 games, 88 points over a point per game, 47 goals.

That was his first season. But even now, I mean, right, 34. Years old, or I guess technically still. 33 years old, turning 34 in 2024, but 33 years old, and that's his numbers. So I think he's still going to be very productive. I think you got to be careful if you're the Leafs.

The Ideal Scenario To Keep The Maple Leafs Core Four Around Emerges

Later in the video the ideal term and cap hit to sign John Tavares to is revealed by this source. The final numbers will be determined by how much term the Maple Leafs feel comfortable giving.

I think if you limit it to three years, I'd be comfortable assigning them to five to 6 million per. But if you can put more years on the board. So like I said, up to five. years on the board and convince Tavares to sign under 5 million, like four and a half million.

Those are some huge cap savings. And when you do sign Nylander and Marner to those long-term extensions, if you do say you sign Marner for, I don't know, eleven and a half, you sign Nylander for $11.25M. As it's being reported that's money that's being added to those contracts will be taken off and more from Tavares and the salary cap will be going up.

This plan sounds like a great idea in theory however it involves a lot of players and moving pieces agreeing to deals in these parameters.

If the Maple Leafs truly can get Tavares to take a team-friendly deal the Stanley Cup window for the Maple Leafs could be greatly extended.