Despite reports of a sizable gap between the Maple Leafs and William Nylander in extension negotiations, the Swedish winger is adamant that he wants to sign a long-term deal to stay in Toronto.

"I want to be in Toronto as long as I can," Nylander said at NHL European Player Media Tour on Wednesday, per NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "That's just where my mind is at."

Nylander and teammate Auston Matthews are both entering the final years of their contracts before they can become unrestricted free agents in 2024. Finding resolutions with the pair will be a priority for new general manager Brad Treliving.

But with one of the most laid-back personalities in the game, Nylander is in no rush to get a deal done.

"Obviously, I want it to work where I can stay there and be there," Nylander said. "There's no other place I want to play, but I still have one more year left. I don't understand why there's such a big rush to do something right now. I still have one more year left."

Nylander has previously shown that he's willing to play the waiting game. It took until Dec. 1, 2018 - the last day restricted free agents could've signed a contract and played that season - for Nylander to ink his current six-year deal that carries a $6.96-million cap hit.

His agent, Lewis Gross, has had discussions with Treliving this offseason, but nothing appears imminent.

"They had been talking, but I don't think there's been much going on about that," Nylander said. "But I'm just focused on getting ready for the season and having my best season yet in order to help us take the next step, too."

Nylander has established himself as one of the game's most electrifying talents. He's coming off a career year in which he tallied 40 goals and 47 assists in 82 games, then added 10 points in 11 playoff contests.

Evolving-Hockey projects a fair extension for Nylander as an eight-year deal with a $9.06-million cap hit.

Notable contract comparisons from this offseason include Pierre-Luc Dubois ($8.5 million AAV), Timo Meier ($8.8 million AAV), and Sebastian Aho ($9.75 million AAV) - all of whom signed for eight years.

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The Arizona Coyotes continue to bet on head coach Andre Tourigny, signing him to a three-year extension, the team announced Wednesday.

Tourigny spent the last two seasons behind the bench in the desert, amassing a 53-90-21 record during his first gig as an NHL bench boss with the Coyotes firmly in rebuild mode. He has one year remaining on his current pact.

"We are very pleased to sign Andre to a three-year extension," general manager Bill Armstrong said. "He is an excellent coach, leader, and communicator who has helped us establish a tremendous culture in our dressing room. Our players like him, respect him, and compete hard for him. We are thrilled to have him signed as our head coach for the next three years."

In July, Armstrong expressed his faith in Tourigny as the man to guide the Coyotes through the next phase of their rebuild, emphasizing that he has an ability to motivate his players "without leaving a scar."

The Coyotes finished among the 10 worst teams in the league in each of Tourigny's two seasons at the helm, but they did enjoy some improvements during his sophomore campaign:

Arizona added the likes of Nick Bjugstad, Alex Kerfoot, Troy Stecher, Jason Zucker, Sean Durzi, Matt Dumba, and Logan Cooley to its roster this summer as it attempts to crawl back to relevancy in the Western Conference. The team's last playoff appearance came in 2020.

Puck drops on the Coyotes' 2023-24 season on Oct. 13 against the New Jersey Devils.

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Vancouver Canucks superstar Elias Pettersson paused talks of a potential contract extension as he gears up for the 2023-24 campaign.

"I've just put that on hold," Pettersson said, per NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "I still have one more year left. I've been wanting to focus on training this summer and the contract will sort itself out."

Pettersson became eligible to sign a new deal on July 1. He's scheduled to be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer if an agreement isn't struck before then.

The 24-year-old said he's unsure about the term he'd prefer on his next contract. Pettersson signed a three-year, $22.05-million bridge deal in 2021 after his entry-level contract expired.

"It's a big topic obviously, and I don't have the answer myself," he said. "I just want to focus on the season."

Pettersson's agent, J.P. Barry, said in June that he expected negotiations to begin this summer with both the Canucks and his client wanting to strike a long-term agreement.

The Canucks are currently projected to have over $32.4 million in cap space next season, according to CapFriendly, but only have 11 players signed beyond 2023-24. Pettersson is likely to become Vancouver's highest-paid player, a title currently held by J.T. Miller and his $8-million annual cap hit.

Pettersson set career highs in goals (39), assists (63), shots (257), and average ice time (20:33) last season, his fifth in the NHL since being drafted fifth overall by Vancouver in 2017.

The Swedish sniper has racked up 323 points in 325 NHL contests and won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2019. Despite an impressive career so far, Pettersson wants to continue evolving every aspect of his repertoire.

"I think I really found my game, what I need to do to play my best," Pettersson said. "I want to be a two-way center. I want them to depend on me in the 'D' zone as much as the offensive zone."

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The Detroit Red Wings re-signed restricted free-agent forward Joe Veleno to a one-year deal worth $825,000, the team announced Tuesday.

More to come.

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Matt and Blake discuss Oliver Ekman-Larsson selling his Kits Point home and the worst acquisitions in Canucks history. They also talk about Corey Pronman's pipeline rankings, the Canucks falling from 14th to 24th, and his ranking of their top-8 prospects, led by Tom Willander down to Danila Klimovich. Other topics include: the Canucks unaddressed need for a big winger; the Lions home to Hamilton Saturday; a big injury at Seahawks camp; Lionel Messi's MLS tour; and the surging Mariners. Patrick Johnston stops by to discuss the past, present and future of OE-L, as well as Canucks prospects and how he sees the defensive pairings shaking out on opening night. He promotes a Troy Stecher community event that's upcoming. North Delta's Brent Lavallee joins to discuss managing his hometown Vancouver Canadians, the C's incredible record this year, going to the Northwest League final, and the makeup of his ballclub, who never say die and have made a habit of late wins, earning the nickname "Cardiac Canadians." Presented by Applewood Auto Group.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning signed winger Brandon Hagel to an eight-year extension carrying an average annual value of $6.5 million, the team announced Tuesday.

Hagel is in the final year of a contract paying him $1.5 million annually. He was set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Hagel, who turns 25 on Sunday, is coming off a career year in which he set personal bests in goals (30), assists (34), games played (81), and average time on ice (18:39).

He's posted strong underlying numbers offensively and on special teams over his three-year career.

The Lightning acquired Hagel, along with a pair of fourth-rounders, from the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2022 trade deadline in exchange for two first-round picks, Boris Katchouk, and Taylor Raddysh.

The Buffalo Sabres drafted Hagel in the sixth round in 2016, but they failed to sign him. Hagel was invited to Montreal Canadiens training camp in 2018 but eventually signed with the Blackhawks instead.

The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native won gold with Canada at the 2021 World Championship.

Hagel is the latest member of the Lightning to ink a maximum-term eight-year extension. He, Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, Mikhail Sergachev, and Erik Cernak are all signed through at least 2029-30.

With the salary cap projected to rise to $87.5 million for 2024-25, the Lightning are set to have $12.6 million in cap space next offseason, with captain Steven Stamkos as the only notable unrestricted free agent.

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