LATEST | TSN panelist, former NHLer gives his take on Nylander, Matthews situation

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Cooper Godin
August 18, 2023 (10:29)

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The Vancouver Canucks aren't the only team with a big name to lock up on their roster as the Toronto Maple Leafs are in a bit of a pickle themselves involving Auston Matthews and William Nylander.

Matthews and Nylander are entering the final year of their respective contracts and they still haven't been signed to extensions, which they became eligible to do back on July 1st.

While we don't know what's going on in the background and each situation is different, Maple Leafs fans are on edge when it comes to two of the 'Big Four'.

TSN panelist and former NHL forward Jeff O'Neill made an appearance on OverDrive, a show which he co-hosts during the season, and discussed the situation.

"The bottom line is if you start training camp with no contract, that basically means you're leaving, I think. Just like Tavares (with the Islanders), as soon as he didn't sign at the beginning of the season, I was like 'that guy's gone'. And he kept saying, 'This is business, this is business and this is for my agent to work out.' That's code for I'm not coming back. That's what I took from the Tavares situation." O'Neill said.

OverDrive co-host Brian Hayes went on to say that he agrees with O'Neill, adding that once you're into the first game of the regular season, you've had all summer to get something done, where the team wants to sign you. Hayes also mentioned that if Matthews wanted $14 million AAV on a three-year deal, the Maple Leafs would probably give it to them.

It's going to be interesting to see how this situation plays out over the next few weeks as we head into September, with training camps and pre-season games right around the corner.

Source: OverDrive

POLL
By this time next year, which of the two will still be with the Maple Leafs?
Both	155	21.3 %
Nylander	50	6.9 %
Matthews	378	52 %
Neither	144	19.8 %
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