Nylander’s aims to bring Stanley Cup to Toronto after signing 8-year deal

Nylander had set NHL career highs in goals (40), assists (47) and points (87) in 82 games. There was reason to think that he would continue his trajectory and that the salary cap would rise. The only question was how much, and there is more clarity today.

At the NHL Board of Governors meeting in Seattle on Dec. 5, Commissioner Gary Bettman said the salary cap is projected to rise from $83.5 million this season to $87.7 million next season.

Nylander has 54 points (21 goals, 33 assists) in 37 games, tied for fifth in the NHL with Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, who has 54 points (14 goals, 40 points) in 34 games. Nylander is on pace to reach 119 points (46 goals, 73 assists) in 82 games.

Treliving said the sides got to a point where each felt comfortable.

“It’s like any deal,” Treliving said. “We always want a little less. The player always wants a little more and we find a way to get a deal done. At the end of the day, we got a really good player here who is going to be here for eight more years so we’re happy about it.”

Matthews will have an average annual value of $13.25 million starting next season. Nylander will have an AAV of $11.5 million. Marner, at $10.9 million, and Tavares, at $11 million, and will be in the last season of his contract.

Even if the cap continues to rise, that is a huge percentage of Toronto’s cap, and the Maple Leafs have more work to do keep their core together and surround it with a strong supporting cast. But they would rather deal with that challenge than deal with trying to replace elite talent.

“It’s important,” Treliving said. “I said when I first got here there are some really good players here, they’re hard to get, they’re hard to keep and when you’ve got them, you try to hold onto them. So, I think it’s a good day for us, a real good day for us, to get him signed. We’re excited to get him signed, a top player in what I believe is just entering the prime of his career.”