Report: Maple Leafs, Nylander nearing 8-year extension

The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the verge of getting William Nylander under contract for the next eight seasons.

"The Maple Leafs fly home from San Jose on Sunday and we could see this as soon as Monday," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on the latest edition of "Saturday Headlines."

"I do believe the (average annual value) for Nylander is going to be around $11.5 million a year," Friedman continued. "Now, obviously there's going to be a ton of debate about this. I think quite simply it came down to one fact: The Toronto Maple Leafs wanted to keep the player, they think he's a good player and a big part of their future, and this was the price that it took to get him for eight years, and that's what they're going to do."

Nylander notched two goals and an assist in the Leafs' 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.

"Obviously, that would be a dream to stay (in Toronto) - I mean, to play for such an organization," he said postgame when asked about the possibility of signing long term. "And I call Toronto home. So I think that'd be a very special feeling."

Nylander is one of the NHL's highest-profile pending unrestricted free agents. He leads all pending UFAs in assists (33) and points (54) through 37 games this season. Only Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart has racked up more goals than Nylander among that group in 2023-24.

The 27-year-old Maple Leafs star is in the final season of the six-year pact he inked with Toronto on Dec. 1, 2018. It carries a cap hit of $6,962,366, according to CapFriendly.

Nylander is in his ninth campaign with the Maple Leafs, who drafted him eighth overall in 2014.