As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare to take on the Vegas Golden Knights tonight at home, there are still two key pieces out of their lineup. First, Auston Matthews, who while back on the ice in some capacity is still several weeks away from a return to game action, and second, William Nylander who appears no closer to a contract resolution with the team. There hasn’t been any public progress between the two sides, and more and more reports and rumors of a possible deal—or at least discussions—with the Carolina Hurricanes are creeping into the news. Insider Darren Dreger was on TSN radio today speaking about the Nylander situation, and while he wouldn’t deny the trade talk completely he certainly threw some cold water on it:
The [trade] interest is there, I’m just not as convinced. And again, credit to both sides, to [agent] Lewis Gross and the Toronto Maple Leafs for maintaining the cloak of secrecy over this. We’ve speculated for months now on what we think is progress, all of that. I think there’s progress. I’d be shocked if Nylander doesn’t sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs. I would.
As Dreger indicates, almost the entire situation has been speculative from the media’s perspective, other than the confirmed meetings between Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas and the Nylander camp in both Switzerland and New York. The two sides have kept the negotiations completely out of the spotlight even as it was frantically turned this way and that to find any scrap of information. Those negotiations must be coming to a head soon though, as Nylander has just three and a half weeks left to hammer out a deal or be deemed ineligible to play at all this season. December 1st is the deadline for restricted free agents to sign, and it is coming quickly.
Still, Dreger does mention that there is plenty of interest around the league and even notes that those visiting Golden Knights have some. It’s easy to understand why, given Nylander’s age and early production. The 22-year old is coming off consecutive 61-point seasons and has shown an ability to possess and carry the puck better than almost any of his contemporaries, making him a prized asset for any team. The Maple Leafs obviously understand that as well as anyone, which makes anything but an eventual contract between the two sides still seem unlikely.
Get this distraction over with.
Are you 100% positive that you DON’T WANT TO READ ABOUT THIS at prohockeyrumors any more?
Guessing this doesn’t cease to be shown on account of all the little toronto fanboys out there. Better get your paper bags for your heads ready. Always a classy fanbase. LOL
so much hate for such a small person… who hurt you so deeply?
Well said.
Do you think there is any chance that a 360 degree turn happens here? That is he takes the egg off his face and signs for $6m plus for 6 years because he does not like the alternative of a bridge deal at $ 4 to $ 4.5 million?
Yep classy like Bruins fans appear to be.
Geez, reading anything written by Dreger is a slog. Even a short quote like that. Make no mistake about it, the effort and work ethic is there for Dreger of TSN, but he often has to put things less succinctly because of the nature of competing and being labelled as an insider of the National Hockey League.
Hope the leafs can make a trade with Carolina. Maybe a trade like Nylander and zaitsev for Faulk and Pesce would be a huge blockbuster. Leafs would then have one of the better D core in the east and be able to save some future cash with trading some semi dead cap space in zaitsev
Still leaves a big hole on the wing. It’s been shown so far this year that they need that secondary scoring, so I’d imagine any deal with any team would see both a winger and a RHD coming back to Toronto.
Brown, Hyman Levo and Johanson have all been snake bit when to the score sheet this year. Those guys have all played really well but just haven’t seen the back of the net. With the emergence of kappenen the leafs really don’t need another winger as who do you get on the trade market that will Bump a top six winger or play a better defensive game on the bottom six than what they already have. I think secondary scoring will come eventually what they need to focus on overhauling their top 4D not named Rielly who’s been lights out all year
How about Pesce and Svechnikov from Carolina?
lol that’s never happening. They aren’t going to trade a rookie with upside similar to nylander and a defenceman for that package. It’s an increase in salary for little gain.
leafs should be happy for one of the canes D (pesce), a 1st round pick in 2019, Necas and Pu for Nylander and a 3rd.
Toronto and Buffalo should make a trade. Nylander for Nylander!!!!
HAHAHAHAAAAAA this maple queefs drama NEVER GETS OLD!!!!!
WTF cares?