The clock is ticking on William Nylander and the Toronto Maple Leafs to come to an accord before the young, talented forward becomes ineligible to play for the rest of the season.

Nylander and the Leafs have until Dec. 1, next Saturday, to come to an agreement, lest they both want to tank his age-22 season.

This late into negotiations, it was thought that Nylander would be seeking a shorter-term bridge deal for the time being but, as Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reports, the two sides still have a longer term on the table, in addition to big money, and they’re both “close” to making something happen.

“It’s interesting that a six-year deal, even at this late stage with next Saturday’s deadline looming, remains a term that is possible for this deal,” Johnston said during the Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada Saturday. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be a six-year deal, but that conversation is going.

“I believe that the Nylander side would accept something around $6.9 million — maybe a little bit above, a shave below seven. They have not yet got to that point but they are believed to be rather close.”

This is the final push in the negotiation and, as Elliotte Friedman reports, the two sides aren’t that far apart at all.

“I think they’re within about half-a-million dollars with each other and they both feel like they’ve come a long way,” he said.

Just seven more days remain to close that final gap.