Maple Leafs William Nylander nearly traded?
The Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander finally came together on a massive extension, ending months of speculation, but things could have changed in a big way.
William Nylander almost moved by the Maple Leafs?
This past summer, speculation was running rampant that the Maple Leafs could potentially trade their star winger, and now it's been revealed just how close that came.
"I think this is the key thing. I think over the summer, the Toronto Maple Leafs made it clear they would consider trading William Nylander for a top defenseman and there just wasn't anything out there. Part of the reason is that teams that were going to trade for him didn't know if they were going to be able to sign him. So, nobody is trading a top defenseman or a really good defenseman for a Nylander that you don't know if you're going to be able to sign. Look at how hard this negotiation was going to be for Toronto. It wasn't going to be any easier anywhere else. So that made it difficult for Toronto to make a deal, they had no deal to make.
I think from the beginning of the season until just before Christmas when Toronto re-engaged, and I think a lot of this started again just after their trip to Sweden... I think the Maple Leafs went through the league and said 'if we let him go and we use that money on the blueline, who is the defenseman we could go get and be impactful enough to fix the loss of Nylander and his production?...They said there is not a defenseman they can get their hands on who is worth losing this player."
I think from the beginning of the season until just before Christmas when Toronto re-engaged, and I think a lot of this started again just after their trip to Sweden... I think the Maple Leafs went through the league and said 'if we let him go and we use that money on the blueline, who is the defenseman we could go get and be impactful enough to fix the loss of Nylander and his production?...They said there is not a defenseman they can get their hands on who is worth losing this player."
It appears as though the Maple Leafs were looking for a big upgrade on the blue line, but with no one willing to commit to an upcoming UFA without an extension, nothing came to fruition.
Maple Leafs pivot and extend the 27-year old star
While they would ultimately go on to hand him an 8-year, $11.25 million AAV deal, this shows that the Maple Leafs were at least willing to make a splash to help their roster, but now, they'll have to do so with the Core Four all locked in.
With a lot less money to play with, improving the blue line and goaltender situation becomes that much harder, but if they can find a way to do it, this team will be tough to play down the stretch in 2023-24.
As Read on Maple Leafs Daily - Nylander reportedly almost traded before signing his extention in Toronto
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 8 | 189 ANSWERS Maple Leafs William Nylander nearly traded? Will the Maple Leafs win a Stanley Cup with this Core Four? | ||
| Yes | 52 | 27.5 % |
| No | 137 | 72.5 % |
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