Nylander feeling no extra pressure to sign with Leafs after Larkin's deal
William Nylander says he doesn't feel there's any heightened need to get a contract done with the Toronto Maple Leafs following Dylan Larkin's new long-term pact with the Detroit Red Wings.
"Now that contract negotiations have started you're more aware of what's going on with things like that," Nylander told NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger on Thursday. "Right now, once something like that happens, you're more updated on what's going on around the league, more educated. But once you sign, I don't think you pay attention to that.
"There is no extra pressure or urgency to get something done just because guys like (Larkin) sign."
Nylander is a restricted free agent without a contract entering the upcoming season.
It's not unreasonable to compare the 22-year-old Maple Leafs forward's situation to that of Larkin, who was an RFA himself before inking a five-year, $30.5-million deal with the Red Wings last Friday. Larkin is also 22, and he produced 63 points while Nylander posted 61 last season.
However, Nylander doesn't appear concerned with Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas' approach to his negotiations.
"I've said all along that Kyle wanted to take things slow and I'm fine with that," Nylander said. "They're going back and forth with my agent from what I hear. We'll see what happens. They said it would take a while and I'm still not worried. When it gets done, it gets done."
Related: Projecting William Nylander's next contract
Earlier this month, Nylander told theScore's John Matisz that he'd prefer to sign a long-term contract rather than a bridge deal.
Dubas insisted back in July that "we can and we will" retain the dynamic young trio of Nylander, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner, the latter two of whom became eligible to sign new deals July 1.
Leafs training camp will open with medicals Sept. 13, followed by the first on-ice session the next day.
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