NHL Trades and Rumors

William Nylander Makes His Desire to Stay in Toronto Clear

William Nylander made his desire to stay with the Toronto Maple Leafs very clear.

by
Jackson Weber
May 26, 2026

Until new GM John Chayka starts making moves and putting his own stamp on the roster, nobody truly knows what direction the Toronto Maple Leafs are heading as a franchise.

A retool around superstars Auston Matthews and William Nylander, with the goal of a quick return to contention, remains the most likely scenario—and a first-overall pick (Gavin McKenna?) falling into their lap should certainly help that.

However, Matthews’ lack of commitment to the team has kept the door open for a possible rebuild, which many believe would, in turn, include shipping Nylander out of town as well. That being said, both players have full say in where they go, and during a recent YouTube video documenting the start of his offseason, the latter made it clear that his preference is to stay in Toronto.

Nylander said:

“I mean, I don’t want to go anywhere, I love Toronto, and this has been home for me for so long. And nothing would make me happier than to win here. So I hope that one day that dream comes true.

Mats is coming in. He knows what it’s all about and playing in Toronto. Being such a leader for this team and being an amazing, you know, captain here. And you know, he will bring that to the table and I think help our club a lot. I’m always fired up for the next season. I would say I’m more like curious to see what happens this summer with our team. I mean, we got a lot of great people and good players here. I know that we are capable of doing it, so that’s what I’m excited for,”

The now 30-year-old Nylander has six years remaining on the eight-year, $92 million extension he signed with the Maple Leafs in 2024, which includes a full no-movement clause throughout the entirety of the deal.

It’s fair to wonder whether Nylander’s opinion would change if Matthews were to leave and Toronto embarked on a full rebuild. That said, recent reports have suggested that the captain wants to win with the Maple Leafs, so things appear to be leaning toward another year of this core leading the charge.

If that is the case, Toronto is going to need a healthy, engaged, and productive Nylander all season long, because without Mitch Marner, the burden and responsibility fall on his and Matthews’ shoulders more than ever before.

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