Nikita Zaitsev and the Toronto Maple Leafs are believed to have a long term contract extension in place, but are holding off on the announcement until the team clinches a playoff berth.

There may also be some finetuning left in the contract language, but the deal is said to be a seven-year, $31.5 million extension for Zaitsev, who has been the Leafs’ best overall defenceman this season.

In addition, Zaitsev told both Sportsnet and ESPN Thursday morning that he will remain in North America (under the new contract) regardless of what’s happening with the 2018 Winter Olympics.

An NHL decision this week does not allow players to participate in the Games; that triggered a reaction from Russian hockey officials, offering native players to return to the KHL next season.

Under that scenario, those players would then be eligible to play in the Games. Prominent Russian players like Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov indicated they will play in the Games regardless of extenuating decisions involving player eligibility.

Zaitsev, who spent the past seven years playing in the KHL, has scored four goals and totaled 36 points for the Leafs in what is his rookie NHL season. He’s represented Russia at the World Junior Championships and at the IIHF World Championship.