New factor enters Nylander’s negotiations and it’s not what the Maple Leafs’ forward wants!

The news on Wednesday out of Carolina brought new light to the situation in Toronto. Sebastian Aho’s new deal has added some context to the William Nylander extension discussions. The Hurrcianes re-signed Aho to an eight-year, $78 million contract extension on Wednesday. The deal will begin with the 2024-25 NHL season and will pay Aho an average-annual value (AAV) of $9.75 million through 2031-32.

As soon as the announcement was made, the Maple Leafs knew they could use Aho’s numbers to set the market for Nylander. The comparables are made, even if Aho is a center and, Nylander, a wing.

Throughout their career, Aho and Nylander have played the same amount of games, yet Aho has 41 more goals and 38 more points.

Despite Nylander having better numbers last season with 40 goals and 87 points to Aho’s 36 goals and 67 points, you have to give the better career, so far, to the Hurricanes’ forward… On top of that, Aho is a far better two-way forward than Nylander, which should factor in as well in upcoming negotiations.

If you’re on Nylander’s camp, this is the best news, seeing that the Finnish forward is seeking a new contract north of $10M in Toronto, however, it is obvious that the Maple Leafs can’t afford to sign another double-figure deal. The focus in Toronto is also on Auston Matthews, and then Mitch Marner next summer.

Nylander is entering the final year of his current contract, and he’d like to earn what he sees as fair compensation for his services with his next deal. However, new Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has already used up what was left of his team’s salary cap space with the new contracts for Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan Reaves and Max Domi. And the Leafs need to figure out how to extend Matthews so all the puzzle pieces fit.

It doesn’t feel like Toronto will budge and with this Aho’s contract to use in negotiations, it doesn’t seem like Nylander will get what he wants, if he chooses to stay with the Maple Leafs…

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