"There's a lot of players in the League and a lot of teams in the League that have players in these situations," general manager Kyle Dubas told TSN on Wednesday. "We're continuing to work towards a solution to it and I'm confident we'll get there. We're not going to get too deep into our situation with any player that we have and their contract status. We'll have some news on that when we have it."
Toronto opens training camp Sept. 13. Dubas said based on history he would not expect Nylander to attend if he does not have a contract. Nylander has said several times this offseason he is OK with the patient approach of the negotiations. He can sign a contract of up to eight years, or could sign a shorter-term deal that would keep him a restricted free agent after it expires.
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The Maple Leafs this offseason signed free agent center John Tavares to a seven-year contract worth $11 million per season and are negotiating a contract extension with center Auston Matthews, a frequent linemate of Nylander who can become a restricted free agent after this season. Forward Mitchell Marner also is eligible for a contract extension before he would become a restricted free agent.
Dubas said it was unlikely Matthews and Marner would sign an extension before the season begins Oct. 3 against the Montreal Canadiens. They can also sign for up to an additional eight seasons.
"We've had good discussions with all of them, with both Mitch and Auston and their people, and these are the types of things, because there's no real immediacy to it, they both know they have another year left on their contracts," Dubas said. "Everyone's excited for the season ... it's been a very patient process on all parts, and that's more from the team than it is from the players.
"We believe that if a player is going to commit that long to a team in a long-term agreement that we want them to be fully comfortable and aware of what they're getting into. And that's the approach that we've taken with them and had good discussions with (Matthews' agent) Judd Moldaver and with (Marner's agent) Darren Ferris, respectively, on Auston and Mitch."
Dubas said the Maple Leafs would be willing to negotiate during the season if the players were comfortable doing so.
