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 The word out of the Auston Matthews camp has been positive.The word from the William Nylander camp has been more difficult to decipher.Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving will have a lot on his plate when NHL unrestricted free agency opens up at noon Saturday, and it’s likely that free agents are secondary on his list of priorities.Both Matthews and Nylander will also become eligible to sign contract extensions for a few more years. If they don’t, then Treliving would likely try to find a trade partner.To be clear, neither Leaf has to sign anything on Saturday — although they’d steal the day if they did.Treliving would like to have both signed by the time training camp opens in September, so the uncertainty — they both have one year left on their current deals — won’t linger. For now, a simple commitment to the team would be enough, a sense that both sides are in the same ballpark on dollars and term. The Matthews camp is said to be closest to a deal: a short-term one that would nonetheless make Matthews the NHL’s highest-paid player by average annual value. That currently is Colorado Avalanche captain Nathan MacKinnon at $12.6 million (U.S.).Nylander’s situation is trickier. He’s said to be interested in a long-term deal, and those tend to be more expensive on an annual basis. Nylander, a 40-goal scorer hitting the prime of his career, might feel he’s due given he’s been a relative bargain at $6.9 million per season, compared to the current deals for teammates Matthews ($11.6 million), Mitch Marner ($10.9 million) and John Tavares ($11 million).Trading Nylander seems unthinkable. Teams don’t have a great deal of salary-cap space and seem unwilling to add to it. The Winnipeg Jets are having trouble moving Vezina Trophy finalist Connor Hellebuyck, while the San Jose Sharks are having difficulty dealing Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson for the same reason. Trades during the recent draft were mostly salary dumps.The Leafs would be wise to let Nylander play the final year of his contract, even with the uncertainty about his future. Call it an own rental and see what happens in a year’s time.If they do sign extensions, the new average values for Nylander and Matthews won’t kick in until 2024-25.No matter what, Treliving has his work cut out. The Leafs have about $6 million in cap space heading into Saturday, but that could reach $12 million with some long-term injured reserve candidates (Jake Muzzin, Nick Robertson and Matt Murray). And all teams can exceed the salary cap by 10 per cent ($8.35 million) over the summer.Here’s where the Leafs stand before the market opens:GoaltendingMurray, Joseph WollTotal salary: $5.5 millionThere’s plenty of goaltending available but the Leafs don’t need to beef up there. Ilya Samsonov is their top goalie, and a restricted free agent. They retained his rights with a qualifying offer of $2.16 million — 120 per cent of last year’s $1.8-million salary. The Leafs can play hardball to keep his next salary low, but he’s probably due at least $4 million after a good year … Keeping all three goalies is an option, with Murray possibly waived to the AHL’s Marlies … Erik Källgren is a UFA.DefenceMuzzin, Morgan Rielly, T.J. Brodie, Jake McCabe, Timothy Liljegren, Mark Giordano, Conor TimminsTotal salary: $17.8 millionThe Leafs would love to get Luke Schenn back at around $2 million. They’re probably going to lose Justin Holl, who is likely Chicago bound. If not Schenn, they might take a run at Radko Gudas for the toughness factor … He’s not as tough, but six-foot-three, right-handed-shooting Denis Gurianov is available … They didn’t send qualifying offers to Mac Hollowell, Filip Král or Victor Mete, making them UFAs.ForwardsMatthews, Nylander, Marner, Tavares, David Kämpf, Calle Järnkrok, Sam Lafferty, Matthew Knies, Pontus HolmbergTotal salary: $47.9 millionThey also sent qualifying offers to RFAs Semyon Der-Arguchintsev ($787,500) and Nick Abruzzese ($803,250), retaining their rights.What’s next?Forwards Ryan O’Reilly, Michael Bunting, Noel Acciari, Alexander Kerfoot and Zach Aston-Reese are likely to test free agency. O’Reilly and Bunting could be two of the highest-paid free agents by the end of Saturday, pricing themselves out of Toronto’s limited reach … Treliving likes toughness and grit, so forward Tyler Bertuzzi could be in play, though the ask will be high: about $5 million, close to what O’Reilly and Bunting will command … The Leafs tried hard to re-sign Acciari, but may set their sights on forward Ryan Reaves, again for the toughness factor … Ex-Leafs forward Connor Brown would be a good fit, but he’s been linked to the Edmonton Oilers … Miles Wood and Max Domi also fit the grit profile … Nashville bought out Matt Duchene, who might take a cheaper contract with a winner and bet on himself … Seattle’s Daniel Sprong could be a cheaper replacement for Kerfoot.Kevin McGran is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @kevin_mcgran 

The word out of the Auston Matthews camp has been positive.

The word from the William Nylander camp has been more difficult to decipher.

Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving will have a lot on his plate when NHL unrestricted free agency opens up at noon Saturday, and it’s likely that free agents are secondary on his list of priorities.

Both Matthews and Nylander will also become eligible to sign contract extensions for a few more years. If they don’t, then Treliving would likely try to find a trade partner.

To be clear, neither Leaf has to sign anything on Saturday — although they’d steal the day if they did.

Treliving would like to have both signed by the time training camp opens in September, so the uncertainty — they both have one year left on their current deals — won’t linger. For now, a simple commitment to the team would be enough, a sense that both sides are in the same ballpark on dollars and term.

The Matthews camp is said to be closest to a deal: a short-term one that would nonetheless make Matthews the NHL’s highest-paid player by average annual value. That currently is Colorado Avalanche captain Nathan MacKinnon at $12.6 million (U.S.).

Nylander’s situation is trickier. He’s said to be interested in a long-term deal, and those tend to be more expensive on an annual basis. Nylander, a 40-goal scorer hitting the prime of his career, might feel he’s due given he’s been a relative bargain at $6.9 million per season, compared to the current deals for teammates Matthews ($11.6 million), Mitch Marner ($10.9 million) and John Tavares ($11 million).

Trading Nylander seems unthinkable. Teams don’t have a great deal of salary-cap space and seem unwilling to add to it. The Winnipeg Jets are having trouble moving Vezina Trophy finalist Connor Hellebuyck, while the San Jose Sharks are having difficulty dealing Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson for the same reason. Trades during the recent draft were mostly salary dumps.

The Leafs would be wise to let Nylander play the final year of his contract, even with the uncertainty about his future. Call it an own rental and see what happens in a year’s time.

If they do sign extensions, the new average values for Nylander and Matthews won’t kick in until 2024-25.

No matter what, Treliving has his work cut out. The Leafs have about $6 million in cap space heading into Saturday, but that could reach $12 million with some long-term injured reserve candidates (Jake Muzzin, Nick Robertson and Matt Murray). And all teams can exceed the salary cap by 10 per cent ($8.35 million) over the summer.

Here’s where the Leafs stand before the market opens:

Goaltending

Murray, Joseph Woll

Total salary: $5.5 million

There’s plenty of goaltending available but the Leafs don’t need to beef up there. Ilya Samsonov is their top goalie, and a restricted free agent. They retained his rights with a qualifying offer of $2.16 million — 120 per cent of last year’s $1.8-million salary. The Leafs can play hardball to keep his next salary low, but he’s probably due at least $4 million after a good year … Keeping all three goalies is an option, with Murray possibly waived to the AHL’s Marlies … Erik Källgren is a UFA.

Defence

Muzzin, Morgan Rielly, T.J. Brodie, Jake McCabe, Timothy Liljegren, Mark Giordano, Conor Timmins

Total salary: $17.8 million

The Leafs would love to get Luke Schenn back at around $2 million. They’re probably going to lose Justin Holl, who is likely Chicago bound. If not Schenn, they might take a run at Radko Gudas for the toughness factor … He’s not as tough, but six-foot-three, right-handed-shooting Denis Gurianov is available … They didn’t send qualifying offers to Mac Hollowell, Filip Král or Victor Mete, making them UFAs.

Forwards

Matthews, Nylander, Marner, Tavares, David Kämpf, Calle Järnkrok, Sam Lafferty, Matthew Knies, Pontus Holmberg

Total salary: $47.9 million

They also sent qualifying offers to RFAs Semyon Der-Arguchintsev ($787,500) and Nick Abruzzese ($803,250), retaining their rights.

What’s next?

Forwards Ryan O’Reilly, Michael Bunting, Noel Acciari, Alexander Kerfoot and Zach Aston-Reese are likely to test free agency. O’Reilly and Bunting could be two of the highest-paid free agents by the end of Saturday, pricing themselves out of Toronto’s limited reach … Treliving likes toughness and grit, so forward Tyler Bertuzzi could be in play, though the ask will be high: about $5 million, close to what O’Reilly and Bunting will command … The Leafs tried hard to re-sign Acciari, but may set their sights on forward Ryan Reaves, again for the toughness factor … Ex-Leafs forward Connor Brown would be a good fit, but he’s been linked to the Edmonton Oilers … Miles Wood and Max Domi also fit the grit profile … Nashville bought out Matt Duchene, who might take a cheaper contract with a winner and bet on himself … Seattle’s Daniel Sprong could be a cheaper replacement for Kerfoot.

Kevin McGran is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @kevin_mcgran