Why Nylander is the best trade chip the Leafs have
With the Toronto Maple Leafs looking to make a splash this summer, a very popular opinion is to break the core-4 and move into a new direction. However when you dissect the possibility of a trade like that, you're only left with one option: William Nylander.
John Tavares has 2 years remaining at a cap hit of 11 million but holds a full NMC, Mitch Marner has 2 years remaining at a cap hit of 10.9 million and also holds an NMC, and Auston Matthews has only one year left at a cap hit of 11.64 million dollars and also has an NMC. Nylander has 1 year left on his deal at a paltry 6.962 million cap hit and a modified no-trade clause - player submits a 10-team no trade list.
The captain has no wish to move out of Toronto while also holding a very un-tradable 11 million cap hit, Marner is in the same boat, and the Leafs want to get a deal done with Matthews as soon as possible. That has always led Nylander to be the odd-man out and considering that his new contract could have him in the 9-10 million range, there's a very good chance the Leafs can't afford that when you factor in Matthews' impending deal.
Nylander's cap hit is very reasonable for the type of player that he has become. He is coming off a career-season where he shattered all his previous highs with 40 goals, 47 assists, and 87 points. On top of that, he added 4 goals and 10 points in 11 playoff games. What makes his contract even easier to trade is the fact that he is owed just 2.5 million in actual salary once his signing bonus is paid.
With Tavares most likely being shifted to wing instead of playing down the middle, the Maple Leafs have become extremely thin at a very important position on the ice. If Ryan O'Reilly walks into free agency, the Leafs are essentially left with Matthews and Sam Lafferty as centres. Trading Nylander is probably the best route to getting a 2C with the influx of wingers the Leafs possess.
It seems very unlikely that the Leafs can get extensions done for both Matthews and Nylander and if they had to choose between the 2, it's fairly obvious with who they're going with. Nylander has been spectacular over the last couple of seasons and is truly coming into his own but will also be 28-years old when he becomes a UFA. One will have to imagine that he will be looking for max term, which would lead into his age-35 season at a very high cap hit.
It's unfortunate that the Leafs have found themselves in this position because trading Tavares would be the easiest way to solve their issues right now. However, he holds all the cards with his NMC while also donning the "C", so now we're left with the notion that Nylander has become the odd man out.
The Leafs will still be able to acquire a superstar player in return, so at the very least there's a silver lining to this mess.
