William Nylander and the Toronto Maple Leafs finally ended their months-long stalemate after both sides agreed to a six-year deal on Saturday, and while Nylander was handsomely compensated, he also received his ideal term.

Speaking over the phone to Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun, Nylander was pleased that he didn’t need to sign a bridge deal with the Maple Leafs.

“That was something I wanted,” Nylander said. “I didn’t want a bridge deal. I want to stay in Toronto with all the players that we have and we have a great team. I didn’t want to risk it by signing a bridge deal and not being able to stay, if that was going to happen.”

Nylander was also taken aback by how long the entire process dragged out.

“It was a learning process for sure. I never thought it would take this long to come to a deal and that it would go down to the last whatever it was, five, 10 minutes before the deadline. That was an experience for sure I will never forget.”

With a new contract signed, Nylander says he “can’t wait to be back” with his Maple Leafs teammates, who picked up their fourth straight win – a 5-3 triumph over the Minnesota Wild – just hours after the Swedish forward signed his contract.