NHL Trade Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs to choose either William Nylander or $65,418,000 winger for contract extension
The Toronto Maple Leafs end up at a junction as they explore the complicated scene of NHL agreements and player talks. The team is faced with a difficult decision that could have an impact on its future given that star wingers Mitch Marner and William Nylander each command significant salaries.
Mitch Marner, who signed a six-year, $65,408,000 contract with the Leafs in September 2019, has demonstrated that he is an essential team player. Toronto might have to choose between Marner and William Nylander, a fellow winger, according to recent discussions and trade rumors.
Nylander’s contract situation came up in a Sportsnet discussion with Sam McKee, Justin Bourne, and Nick Kypreos. The involvement of agent Lewis Gross added complexity, raising the possibility that Nylander is considering unrestricted free agency (UFA).
Sam McKee stated:
“Well what stood out to me about this piece and this is how things have been seeing it spread out before me, was the Lewis Gross part of this … perhaps they simply need to go to UFA.”
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ potential dangers if they lost Nylander were emphasized, as was the impact on negotiations with Marner. Toronto is in a precarious position as it navigates the salary cap landscape due to the looming threat of losing both elite wingers.
Justin Bourne, an insider, said:
“Ah, sure. If you lose Willy Nylander—let’s say you decide that we value the cap space or that we were going to trade him at the deadline, or whatever—and you do not have Willy Kneeland on your roster, then it is Mitch Marner’s turn to negotiate. This is the scary part, as I mentioned earlier. you’re in a bad way, since you can’t lose them both.”
He added:
“So all of a sudden, you know, Mitch has you up against a wall at that point where you’re saying we gotta keep one of our elite wingers, our game breakers, our guy who plays the most minutes, you know, and so that changes things were…” Toronto Maple Leafs’ confusion and trying to avoid a situation similar to Johnny Gaudreau As the Toronto Maple Leafs wrestle with this decision, the question of whether they would consider trading Nylander in March has emerged. “So all of As a backdrop, the cautionary tale of the Calgary Flames and Johnny Gaudreau’s situation highlights Toronto’s need to make smart decisions to avoid a similar outcome.
Justin Bourne, an NHL insider, stated:
“Treliving has made it clear that he doesn’t want to do the same thing as (Johnny) Gaudreau again, where he just gets, I can’t do anything, and the guy just leaves,” Treliving said.
