It was minutes before the Dec. 1 deadline for William Nylander's eligibility to play this season. Toronto Maple Leafs fans were counting down to the deadline. Would the standout 22-year-old forward re-sign with the Leafs? Would he sit out for a season? Would this restricted-free-agent contract stalemate necessitate them trading away their top-line winger?
"At the end, it becomes a bit frantic as it gets down the deadline," said Toronto GM Kyle Dubas, "but in the end, no real emotions. We just to stuck to our process."
The process paid off for both sides: Nylander's new deal pays him $41.