Maple Leafs’ Nylander doesn’t deserve criticism for his salary request

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William Nylanders’ contract uncertainty is one of many stories circulating in the Toronto Maple Leafs media sphere. The 27-year-old winger is entering the final year of his six-year contract, which has an average annual salary (AAV) of $6.962 million. With insiders constantly updating the public on the ongoing negotiations between the player and General Manager (GM) Brad Treliving, the public discovered his seemingly high demand.

Many Maple Leafs fans feel the Nylanders’ demand is too high. Although its initial asking price is higher than many believe it is due, it is essential to remember two things. Agents and players will always start negotiations asking for more money than their perceived market value, and hockey is a business where either party will usually do what’s best for them.

What do the Nylanders pretend to ask?

According to insider Chris Johnston, Nylander thinks he’s worth $10 million a year or more. Currently, only 15 NHL players have an AAV of $10 million or more. Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and Artemi Panarin sit one, two and three respectively. The number increases to 37 if we include players making a minimum AAV of $9 million. Is Nylander one of the top 15 players in the NHL right now? Most people would say no. Top 37? Some may lean yes. If Nylander were to sign an extension with the Maple Leafs carrying a $10 million AAV, that would be about 12% of the current salary cap. This demand seems high; however, the salary cap is expected to jump in future years, significantly reducing the percentage of the cap consumed.

Demand is high, but as The Old Prof, my colleague from The Hockey Writers, pointed out in a recent article, Nylanders production over the past three seasons puts its value around $9.5 million on the current market. That means his request for $10 million or a hair’s breadth more isn’t too exaggerated in reality once the cap jumps.

Nylander is 22nd in total goal production with 81 and has 209 points, good for 23rd in the NHL. He can drive a line, is a deadly passer and shooter, and is seemingly close to his teammates. He’s a frontline winger, and if it weren’t for the Maple Leafs with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and John Tavares, he’d probably be an eternal All-Star.

Why are some fans upset?

It’s easy to see why some fans may be shocked and upset by Nylander’s high asking price. A $10 million plus AAV is usually for the elite of the NHL elite. People throw away lots of reasons why it doesn’t deserve the award. Aside from the initial shock of his current demand, these are some of the most understandable talking points.

Related: Maple Leafs Could Take Calculated Risk With Nylanders Contract

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Some fans may still hold some resentment, given the bitter taste the 2018 Nylander negotiations left in the mouths of Maple Leaf fans. After his entry-level contract expired, Nylander held firm for the start of the 2018-19 season. He waited two months as tense negotiations ensued between his agent and the Maple Leafs. In the last hour of December 1, 2018, Nylander signed the aforementioned six-year deal, squeezing as many pennies as possible. In retrospect, Nylander at an AAV of $6.96 million is a steal; however, it only feels like a robbery now due to his extraordinary play since then.

William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Holding on in 2018, and his request to leave on his new contract of around $10 million, some fans may view Nylander not as a first-team player, but as a name-focused player on the back. rather than on the crest. Front. At first glance, it is easy to assume that. However, there have been no reliable reports of Nylander being a problem in the dressing room. While one can have opinions on the perception of how Maple Leafs players conduct themselves, the consistency of the Nylanders since the 2019-20 season, continued growth and improvement, and no doubt the fact of being their best player in the playoffs year after year should calm the animosity and bad thoughts. surrounding it.

Why Fans Shouldn’t Be Upset: The Discounts

Matthews and Marner did not take contract discounts after completing their entry-level deals. Their AAVs are among the highest in the NHL. Matthews has an AAV of $11.6 million, and Marner comes in at $10.9 million per year. Marner has received criticism and hate for his high salary, while Matthews, who is also an unrestricted free agent (UFA) after the 2023-24 season, is reportedly unwilling to sign a long-term deal. To expect Nylander to take a cut and move too much on his request is unfair. Insider Elliotte Friedman told the NHL Network that he doesn’t think Nylander will accept a discount if other players aren’t willing to.

Considering Matthews wants a short-term deal and the unknown with Marner, Nylanders’ reluctance to meet his request is understandable. In an ideal situation, all players take what they are worth to help the team win, but this reality is unrealistic to expect. Friedman’s statement also leaves room for theorizing. If his superstar teammates take less than market value, one would assume that Nylander might be willing to lower his request, potentially even taking a steep discount. It looks like he’ll do what’s right, and if no one takes a discount, it’s unfair for him to take one.

Why fans shouldn’t be upset: Nylanders playoff performance

In addition to not taking less than the others, he is one of the most consistent players in the Maple Leafs playoffs in recent years. Forget Nylander who has set career highs in goals (40), assists (47) and points (87) this season for a while. He has led the Maple Leafs in playoff goals for the past three years. In 25 playoff games, he had 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points over those three years. He trails only Marner in points by one and is tied with Matthews in points for second on the team. The two have also played 25 games. He also achieved those totals in significantly less ice time. Nylander averaged just 6:30 p.m. of ice time, compared to Marners 11:57 p.m. and Matthews 10:59 p.m. Statistically, he’s arguably the team’s most effective offensive player in the playoffs for the past three years.

As Maple Leafs fans know, it’s the playoffs that matter. Nylander is a playoff performer, stepping up when needed. He leads the team in playoff goals and is tied for second in points while playing nearly four minutes less than Matthews and Marner. He has his defensive shortcomings, but the damage he does in the time he gets is remarkable. His demand for today’s NHL is high, but trading one of your teams’ most consistent playoff players in recent years due to his demand, which will become reasonable in years to come, is risky. $10 million is a huge amount, but Nylander deserves it, and fans shouldn’t attack or be mad at him, given his track record.

Morgan Rielly and William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate an overtime goal in Game 3 of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Of course, not all Maple Leafs fans are critical of his request, while only a few publicly express their distaste for the players through forums and social media. Many simply wonder why he wants so much, given the lack of team success the Maple Leafs have had. The questions are fair. Individually, Nylander has proven himself. Unfortunately, the shine goes to the catchy names of Matthews, Marner and Tavares, but he deserves a salary close to theirs once the cap makes the expected leap.

Nylander is a maple leaf. It’s easy to forget in the firestorm of contract negotiation that he loves playing for the Maple Leafs. It’s fair to debate why he’s worth or isn’t worth x dollars, but it’s important not to belittle, attack or hate him just because he wants what’s best for him. him and his family. A request for $10 million a year is shocking to see at first; however, these are only negotiations. If he signs a contract with an AAV in the range of $9 million, it will become a robbery. He’s a great playoff player who can handle the stress of playing in the Toronto market. If other players aren’t getting discounts, Nylander shouldn’t expect it either.

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