Speculation will run wild in Toronto over the subsequent few weeks because the group goes off for the summer time following one other early-round playoff exit. Questions about administration, the roster, the teaching workers, and extra will hover over the group like a darkish cloud all through the NHL Entry Draft, free company, and into coaching camp. Among the gamers more likely to get quite a lot of consideration is William Nylander.
Considered a member of the core 4, Nylander (like Auston Matthews) solely has another 12 months on his present deal. Also like Matthews, the expectation is that he’ll get a hefty bump in wage and questions on whether or not the Maple Leafs can afford to maintain him whereas negotiating Matthews’ new deal shall be front-page information.
Some analysts are already speaking commerce hypothesis, together with Jeff Marek of the 32 Thoughts podcast who instructed followers watch for the Colorado Avalanche with regards to a possible touchdown spot for Nylander. Two groups who need to stay in competition, if a commerce goes down right here, it may very well be a whopper.
Marek defined:
“If you make William Nylander available, I know a lot of Nylander haters won’t like to hear this, there will be a huge market for William Nylander…The one that keeps popping out to me when I think about if the Leafs want to go to market with Nylander is Colorado.” He provides, “You telling me the Avalanche, where [Gabriel] Landeskog is not playing next season and we have a whole bunch of questions about the future of [Valeri] Nichushkin, you’re telling me that couldn’t be a home for someone like Nylander and with their structure and with their leadership group?”
Marek is suggesting right here that can the Avs probably be with out Nichuskin — studies had been {that a} very intoxicated lady was present in his resort room in the course of the Avs’ sequence with the Seattle Kraken and the ahead by no means returned to the group after the information broke — and after studying Landeskog would miss all of subsequent season on account of damage, that the Avs badly want offense. Nylander is among the many most dynamic offensive gamers within the NHL.
What Would an Avs and Maple Leafs Trade Look Like?
The problem turns into what the Avalanche might probably supply Toronto. The Maple Leafs don’t need prospects or draft picks as a result of they aren’t rebuilding. If the Leafs are going to maneuver Nylander, they’ll need efficient, however more cost effective gamers to interchange him. They’ll seemingly be seeking to beef up an space of weak spot.
Cale Makar is actually out of the realm of chance, however is Bowen Byram? One would assume the Avs wouldn’t dare half with the younger defenseman, however Nylander is sort of a participant and Byram is a pending RFA. Toronto might ask.
If that’s a no-go, what a couple of bundle that features somebody like Devon Toews or Samuel Girard? These gamers will surely assist the Maple Leafs on the blue line, however would it not be sufficient?
Next: Auston Matthews Says Intention Is To Remain with Maple Leafs
