Monthly Archives: December 2018
Leafs Re-sign Nylander
Nylander agrees to 6-year deal with Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander have agreed to a six-year contract, the team announced Saturday with minutes to spare before the 5:00 p.m. ET deadline.
The Nylander extension was filed at 4:55 p.m. ET. #NylanderWatch
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) December 1, 2018
Because Nylander's missed the club's first 26 games of the season, his cap hit will be $10.2 million for the remainder of the current campaign and $6.9 million in years two through six of the deal.
Here are some additional figures, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.
First year salary is pro rated $10M salary (6.77 M) plus a full $2M signing bonus. Net number of $8.77M. AAV of $10.2M.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 1, 2018
In out years, the AAV is $6.996M.
In year two, base salary is $700K, SB of $8.3M.
In remaining years, $2.5M in base salary plus $3.5M SB.
With the signing, the Maple Leafs have a projected $5.2 million in cap space for the remainder of the season, according to Cap Friendly. They've skated to an 18-8 record so far without Nylander in the lineup, good for third place in the Eastern Conference.
As for when the 22-year-old will make his season debut, Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said Nylander still has to go through medical testing, but the team hopes to have him back in action in the next week or so, according to the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan.
Nylander has played two full campaigns with the Maple Leafs, recording 61 points in each.
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Predators recall top prospect Eeli Tolvanen from AHL
The Nashville Predators recalled top prospect Eeli Tolvanen from the AHL on Saturday, the team announced.
The 19-year-old has tallied four goals and 11 points in 21 games with the Milwaukee Admirals this season.
Tolvanen made headlines overseas a year ago while playing with the Helsinki Jokerit, breaking the KHL record for points by a teenager with 36, which was previously held by Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Selected 30th overall by the Predators in 2017, many considered Tolvanen to be the steal of the draft following his banner season with the Jokerit.
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Report: ‘Highly unlikely’ Maple Leafs trade Nylander before 5 p.m. deadline
It appears the William Nylander standoff has come down to one of two possible conclusions: sign or sit.
It's "highly unlikely" the Toronto Maple Leafs will trade Nylander before Saturday's 5 p.m. ET deadline, reports TSN's Bob McKenzie.
If Nylander doesn't sign a contract before then, he'll be ineligible to play at all this season.
If the deadline passes without a new contract, the Maple Leafs could still theoretically deal Nylander's rights this season before Feb. 25, but it would essentially rule out any trade partner with playoff aspirations.
Nylander was drafted eighth overall in 2014, and is coming off back-to-back 61-point seasons.
The Maple Leafs haven't skipped a beat without the young Swede in the lineup, as they've started the season 18-8-0 and own the NHL's best goal differential.
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Karlsson feeling ‘anxious’ ahead of return to Ottawa
OTTAWA -- The most anticipated game of the season at Canadian Tire Centre arrives Saturday afternoon when the Ottawa Senators host the San Jose Sharks.
It will mark the first return of former Senators captain Erik Karlsson, a two-time Norris Trophy winner and the most talented player in franchise history. He was traded to the Sharks in September, almost 10 months before he's eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. The Senators couldn't risk allowing him to walk and get nothing in return.
"I feel fairly calm, a little anxious, and obviously it feels a little different," Karlsson, the Senators' first-round draft choice in 2008, said after the Sharks practiced at the University of Ottawa on Friday. "I'm going to try to enjoy it. I've had nothing but great memories here and I'm looking forward to creating more. Saturday afternoon is going to be another one of those great memories."
Despite the controversial divorce between the team and its superstar defenseman, Senators players expect Karlsson will get the loudest cheers of the afternoon.
"Ultimately, he's a friend of ours and one of the best players to every play here," Ottawa's Mark Stone said. "The things he did in my time here were nothing short of spectacular. You remember the good times we had and the playoff run that he carried us on. Those are the things he should get remembered for."
Karlsson hype aside, the Senators (11-12-3) will be trying to match a season-high three-game winning streak. Owners of the worst defensive numbers in the league, they'll be coming off a 3-0 win over the New York Rangers that not only marked Craig Anderson's first shutout since December but also tied a season low in shots allowed with 27.
"Arguably, it was one of our best games, if not our best all year, top to bottom," said center Matt Duchene, who had 21 points in 15 November games. "(Anderson) has seen more rubber than the Michelin Man this year. He deserved this one."
Thus far, at least, the Sharks (12-9-5) are not living up to the high expectations placed on them after the Karlsson trade. Three games into a five-stop road trip, they are 0-2-1 and coming off a 5-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs that came with some stark realisms. Namely, that they are not yet at the same level as the best teams in the league.
"In my personal opinion, I don't think we're close," center Logan Couture told the San Jose Mercury News. "We show spurts and signs that we're capable of it, but we haven't put it together against a top quality team. We've got to figure it out soon."
Coach Pete DeBoer can use the 2015-16 season as an example of how things can come together quickly. That season, the Sharks were .500 as late as January, and they went on to reach the Stanley Cup final.
"I'm a believer that it takes time," DeBoer told the Mercury News. "I'm a believer that it doesn't take 26 games."
The Sharks are expected to be without winger Timo Meier, who is dealing with an upper-body injury. Senators rookie defenseman Max Lajoie is doubtful with an undisclosed injury.
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Capitals’ Wilson will not be disciplined for hit on Devils’ Seney
Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson will not face supplemental discipline for his hit on New Jersey Devils forward Brett Seney, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.
Wilson was assessed a match penalty and was ejected for this check on Friday night.
Tom Wilson has been ejected for a hit to Brett Seney. Right call? Judge for yourself.
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 1, 2018
Stream #CapsDevils live: https://t.co/Wn6LWyeTGx pic.twitter.com/COAetFl1l1
Wilson missed the first 16 games of the regular season due to suspension after catching St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist with a blindside hit in preseason. It was his fourth suspension in just over a year.
Fresh off signing a six-year, $31-million contract in the offseason, Wilson is enjoying his best year to date, collecting seven goals and 13 points through his first nine games.
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