Typical late Friday breaking news. The Leafs announced they signed Alex Nylander to a 1 year, $775,000 contract (prorated). The younger Nylander had been signed by Toronto this past summer to an AHL contract. He was tied for the team lead in points (12) and second on the team in goals (8) in 14 games so far.
Adding some more Style 😎 pic.twitter.com/WJdZ5vLCe0
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 22, 2024
The Leafs needed to make this signing, because they had to put Matthew Knies on IR. You know, from that body check to the chest that he took from Zach Whitecloud in the Vegas game. I assume the injury is from bruised ribs or something.
The Maple Leafs have placed F Matthew Knies on IR (upper body) retroactive to November 20.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) November 22, 2024
The proration of this deal is because it's been signed during the season. For any casual cap calculation, treating it as an ordinary $775,000 is fine.
Because Nylander has not cleared waivers the way he would have had to do in October if he'd been signed to an NHL deal at that time, he requires waivers to return to the AHL. Given the state of health of the Leafs forwards, it's impossible to know when that day might come.
Knies on IR from November 20, means the earlies he could return is next Thursday. The information on how badly he is hurt from the hit to the head on Wednesday is vague, and no one can be sure in advance.
To fit all the recalled players under the cap, David Kämpf and Max Pacioretty were both placed on LTIR, so they are not eligible to return until December 14. The Leafs schedule is so light, it will take over 24 days (the LTIR minimum time) to get to the minimum 10 games missed.
