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"I've said all along that (first-year general
manager Kyle Dubas) wanted to take things slow, and I'm fine
with that," Nylander told reporters Thursday during the NHL's
European player media tour. "They're going back and forth with
my agent, from what I hear. We'll see what happens. They said it
would take a while, and I'm still not worried. When it gets
done, it gets done."
Nylander said he expects a deal will be reached before the Maple
Leafs open training camp on Sept. 13. He made reference to
fellow restricted free agent Dylan Larkin's five-year, $30.5
million contract signed with the Detroit Red Wings last week
when discussing his own status.
"Now that contract negotiations have started, you're more aware
of what's going on with things like that," Nylander said. "Right
now, once something like that happens, you're more updated on
what's going on around the league, more educated. But once you
sign, I don't think you pay attention to that.
"There is no extra pressure or urgency to get something done
just because guys like (Larkin) sign."
While Larkin, 22, has 140 points in 242 games through his first
three NHL seasons, Nylander, also 22, has 135 in 185 games over
the same span. He had 61 points while playing all 82 games last
season, scoring 20 goals and registering a career-high 41
assists.
Nylander added one goal and three assists during Toronto's
Stanley Cup playoff run, which ended in Game 7 of the first
round against the Boston Bruins.
Since adding John Tavares on a seven-year, $77 million contract
to begin the offseason, Dubas has said he believes the team will
be able to retain Nylander in addition to fellow young forwards
Mitchell Marner and Auston Matthews while remaining under the
salary cap. Marner and Matthews could become restricted free
agents after this season.
Nylander, who is expected to move from center to full-time
winger with Tavares now in tow, said he hopes Dubas is indeed
able to keep the team's core in place for years to come.
"I think it would be amazing," Nylander said. "We've been
playing together now for a couple of years and having a lot of
fun and a lot of success together. It would be a blast to be
together for a long time."
--Field Level Media
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