There’s another prominent member of the Maple Leafs who can extend his contract next summer: William Nylander.

It’s wild to think that nearly four years have passed since Nylander signed his six-year contract on the last possible day back in Dec. 2018.

He’s entering year five of that deal this season and like Auston Matthews, can extend his contract with the Leafs next July.

“I mean, I haven’t really thought about it,” Nylander told The Athletic. “But the only thing I can think of is, if we have a great year here and we go deep and hopefully do what we want to do then obviously it’d be unreal to stay.”

Nylander is coming off his most productive season in the NHL. He established new career highs with 34 goals, 46 assists, and 80 points during the regular season, and notched a point per game – three goals, four assists – in the Leafs seven-game loss to Tampa in the playoffs.

He’s 26 now, an age when most players are who they are in the league.

For Nylander, that’s a highly productive, often dazzling, talent who’s defied those who thought his contract, which was finally signed after the longest contract dispute of the salary cap era, was an over-payment by the Leafs. The deal arguably set the standard for the kind of long-term bets (paying for upside) NHL teams – think Ottawa with Tim Stutzle’s eight-year, $66.8 million extension – now make regularly with young players.

Nylander’s $6.9 million cap hit ranks 85th in the NHL this season and 57th among forwards. He tied for 33rd in league scoring last season.