TSN 1050 is reporting that Dave Nonis has signed a 5 year extension as GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs:

Nonis signs 5-year contract extension with #Leafs — Lawrence Dushenski (@LD10) July 25, 2013

I wouldn’t attribute much meaning to a move like this. We saw with Ron Wilson’s Christmastime contract in 2011 how these extensions can be a hollow gesture more geared toward financial security than job security for the individual in question, but it’s worth noting Wilson was a lame duck and only received a one-year extension. It appears MLSE tore up Nonis’ old contract, which was for three more years, and gave him a new 5-year deal that lasts through the 2017-18 season. It’s only non-capped MLSE money at the end of the day; they can still fire him at any point and pay the severance package without batting an eye, the two years aren’t a major deal in that respect. It’s certainly a vote of confidence from Tim Lieweke for a man who only really made his stamp on the team as head GM in the last month or month and a half. Perhaps Liewke’s thinking is that he wants Nonis looking 5 years down the road when making decisions, not 3. Or maybe it’s just a good-job gesture because Lieweke likes Nonis’ off-season moves. Tough to know the exact thinking, but I do know that results will determine how long he’ll stick around, not contract extensions in July.

So Dave Nonis's extension begins this coming season, meaning he is under contract until 2018. Only player signed longer is Clarkson. — James Mirtle (@mirtle) July 25, 2013



