There's one topic of conversation that has been looming over the Leafs all summer long and it's going to carry over into the regular season.

RFA William Nylander still hasn't signed a contract with the Leafs and at this point, it's anybody's guess as to when (if) he'll sign a deal.  Nylander is a key contributor for Toronto and everyone wants to see him in the lineup because this Leafs team has a real shot at winning the Stanley Cup this year if they're at full strength.

On Wednesday ahead of Toronto's opening game of the season at home against Montreal, Brendan Shanahan spoke to the media and had some interesting things to say not just about Nylander's situation, but about all of his young players.

There's a lot to digest from what Shanahan had to say.  Obviously he realizes how important Nylander and all of his young leaders are to the success of the franchise, but he's also asking them to make sacrifices in order to not only keep the core together, but to add to it in order to have a chance to win for years to come.

Sacrificing is easier said than done, though, especially because these young players (particularly Marner, Matthews, and Nylander) all have the chance to sign a big-money deal for the first time in their careers.

You would think that each player is talented enough to earn a lot of money once whatever deal they sign with Toronto is over (assuming they all sign deals over the coming years), but at the moment this is their best chance to do so and who knows what will happen in the future.

The bottom line is everyone is hoping this situation gets resolved because as it stands, if the Leafs can lock up their young core, they will be competing for Cups for a long time and that's all you can want each and every year.