John Tavares could have commanded a higher salary had he tested the market. Instead, he signed a four-year extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs for an average annual value of $4.38 million per season. It was a significant discount from the player’s previous AAV of $11 million, and while it was clear that the 38-goal scorer from the 2024-25 season wasn’t going to match his former salary, the number he signed for was a significant bargain.

Maple Leafs teammate William Nylander — while doing the rounds at the NHL’s European Media Tour — was asked by Sirius XM’s Dave Pagnotta and Dennis Bernstein about Tavares’s commitment to staying in Toronto.

“He took an unbelievable deal for the team. He wanted to stay and showed his commitment to winning the (Stanley) Cup in Toronto,” Nylander said. “I think everybody on the team appreciates that a lot, and that shows leadership, for sure.”

Nylander has spent a majority of his NHL career playing on the right wing of Tavares on Toronto’s second line, and it’s possible both reprise their roles for the upcoming season.

“He’s been an incredible leader for me and I’ve learned a lot from him both on and off the ice,” Nylander added.

The Leafs’ other big free agent from the summer, Mitch Marner, ended up with the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade completed on June 30. Marner went on to sign an eight-year, $96 million contract with Vegas. With Marner’s departure, the club loaded up on depth, acquiring forwards Nicolas Roy, Matias Maccelli, and Dakota Joshua, among others.

Nylander is eager for camp to begin next month to see how everyone fits on the new-look Leafs.

“You get to that first team dinner, have some fun with the guys. Then just get out there and compete and battle with each other and build that chemistry with everybody,” Nylander said. “Building that through the season until you get to the push there at the end to try to go.”

The 29-year-old Nylander is coming off a career-high 45-goal season and has hit the 40-goal mark in three consecutive years.

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