The Maple Leafs Face Major Issues After Signing William Nylander's New Contract

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Jim
January 10, 2024 (8:20)

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After the Maple Leafs gave William Nylander a whopping 8 year, $92 million ($11.5 million per year with $69 million available in bonuses) contract, the club finds themselves in a little bit of a cap pickle.

Granted, they've been in a cap pickle for a while now, and they've always worked through it. But this time it may bite them.

Of course, you're not going to let someone with Nylander's skill walk, especially when he's a part of the Core Four (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, William Nylander). But giving William $92 million may hurt Toronto because of their cap situation.

Coming up the next two years, the Leafs have $21 million in cap for 2024-25, and $53 million for 2025-26. In those two years, all their defensemen and goalie contracts are ending. Also, Nicholas Robertson is in need of his first NHL contract and depending on how Mattew Knies does in his first two years, he'll get a good chunk of cash.

But on top of all that: one half of the Core Four, John Tavares and Mitch Marner's contracts end in 2025. Mitch Marner is only 26 years old (will be 28 by the time he needs a new contract) and is going to get a close-to record breaking contract once it's his time to step up to the negotiating plate. Brad Treliving isn't going to want to let go Marner, so where does that leave Tavares? Tavares is 33 years old right now and will be 35 by the time his contract is up.

Brad may have to make a difficult decision and let one of the Core Four go. Of course, it'll be tough to let go of your Captain, but what other choice do they have? They need to make ends meet, and that seems like the way.