No one thought it would truly go this long, but it has. As of today, William Nylander now holds the title of the longest time an RFA has gone not signing a new contract.
It was now seven years ago to the day, that Kyle Turris signed a two-year, $2.8 million dollar deal with the Arizona Coyotes. The previous holder of the record was then traded less than a month later to the Ottawa Senators for David Rundblad and a 2nd-round pick.
With Turris, he had requested a trade from the Coyotes and had been hoping to force one by holding out after his entry-level deal expired.
But as far as we know with Nylander, he is looking for the exact opposite and is worried about a trade away from the Leafs. There has been nothing new reported for a while now, but that was the main talking point earlier on in the month.
A more recent example of a contract holdout that has turned a little sour is Jacob Trouba of the Winnipeg Jets. Two years ago the defenceman held out after his ELC expired and did not sign a new two-year deal until November 7th. This summer he signed just a one-year contract after that one expired, not giving us the most faith that these kinds of holdouts end with the player wanting to stay with their original team.
Whether or not we see him re-sign with the Leafs or somewhere else, Nylander has made history today as the longest RFA contract holdout since the 2005 CBA was put in place.

No one thought it would truly go this long, but it has. As of today, William Nylander now holds the title of the longest time an RFA has gone not signing a new contract.

It was now seven years ago to the day, that Kyle Turris signed a two-year, $2.8 million dollar deal with the Arizona Coyotes. The previous holder of the record was then traded less than a month later to the Ottawa Senators for David Rundblad and a 2nd-round pick.

With Turris, he had requested a trade from the Coyotes and had been hoping to force one by holding out after his entry-level deal expired.

But as far as we know with Nylander, he is looking for the exact opposite and is worried about a trade away from the Leafs. There has been nothing new reported for a while now, but that was the main talking point earlier on in the month.

A more recent example of a contract holdout that has turned a little sour is Jacob Trouba of the Winnipeg Jets. Two years ago the defenceman held out after his ELC expired and did not sign a new two-year deal until November 7th. This summer he signed just a one-year contract after that one expired, not giving us the most faith that these kinds of holdouts end with the player wanting to stay with their original team.

Whether or not we see him re-sign with the Leafs or somewhere else, Nylander has made history today as the longest RFA contract holdout since the 2005 CBA was put in place.

Nylander’s contract holdout now longest in cap era

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