The Toronto Maple Leafs have secured the services of one of their big-scoring forwards.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and other sources, the Leafs signed restricted free agent William Nylander to a six-year contract. TSN's Bob McKenzie also reported via Twitter that the deal is worth about $41.4-million. Nylander, who is expected to return to the Leafs lineup almost right away, is receiving a pro-rated first-year salary of $6.77-million plus a $2-million signing bonus.
Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas had told Sportsnet this summer that the team's top priority was re-signing Nylander, and keeping their core roster of Nylander, John Tavares, Austen Matthews and former London Knight Mitch Marner.
Nylander, 22, had a deadline of Saturday midnight to agree to a contract, otherwise he would not have been able to play this season at all. The Leafs were reportedly speaking to other NHL teams about a possible trade. With Nylander being a restricted free agent, the Leafs would have the option of matching any deal proposed by another NHL club.
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The Calgary-born Nylander, who has lived in Sweden since he was 14, played junior hockey in Sweden before being drafted by Toronto in the first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, eighth overall. He has scored 61 points in each of his first two full regular seasons with the Leafs. He has also had four playoff points in each of those two seasons.
It is not known when Nylander will once again wear the maple crest. The team is on the road Saturday night against the Minnesota Wild.