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Mike Johnston of Sportsnet: Chris Johnston on Sportsnet Headlines said that the Toronto Maple Leafs would be okay with the idea William Nylander sitting out the year if they don’t come to an agreement or trade him.
“If there isn’t a trade that presents itself — and we spoke last week about the fact that they are gauging the market on William Nylander, and William Nylander’s demands don’t come to the range that they’re comfortable paying — they’re comfortable letting this player sit and I think that’s significant with the fact that it’s 13-plus days remaining and tensions only to get a little higher as we get closer to Dec. 1.”
Nick Kypreos said that Nylander’s camp knows there are teams out there that will pay him around $7 million a season, a number the Maple Leafs believe is too high.
“ understands that there’s a better market out there right now than the one that the Toronto Maple Leafs are offering,” Kypreos said.
Lance Hornby: Toronto Maple GM Kyle Dubas and senior advisor Cliff Fletcher were in Anaheim last night to watch the Ducks and Leafs.
Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: (mailbag) If they trade William Nylander, Leafs GM may be looking for a “game-changing” right-handed defenseman, but he might have to move off the “game-changing” to one who is signed to a cap friendly long-term deal.
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Bob McKenzie was on TSN 1050 and was mentioning his talk with one agent who thinks that three-year bridge deal for the Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander could break down to $4 million, $5 million and $7 million – a $5.33 cap hit. Nylander would require a $7 million qualifying offer when the deal is up. It may not be where either side wants to be, so that is why it may work.
“And I don’t think a 5.33 AAV, depending on how it’s calculated with the rules being what they are, but I don’t think that would cripple the Leafs over the next couple of years here.”
It’s over $500,000 more than what Nikita Kucherov got on his bridge deal, but salary cap has gone up since Kucherov’s deal.
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman was Sportsnet 960 and was asked about William Nylander.
Friedman believes that “it’s more likely than not” that Nylander gets traded. The longer this drags on, the more likely he’s traded.
“The tough thing though is that they really value him, they like him a lot. How many trades do you see out there where they’re not giving up the best player. I think it’s a tough trade to make.
“A lot of the talk is Carolina. I do think that Carolina is willing to deal Pesce, and I think that Toronto wants Slavin – who is an underrated, really talented guy.
“I’m just wondering if either one of those guys is going to budge at all.”
NOVEMBER 11, 2018
Maple Leafs tell teams to let them know who they would/wouldn’t trade for William Nylander
Mike Johnston of Sportsnet: The Toronto Maple Leafs are now exploring the possibility of trading restricted free agent forward William Nylander as their contract standoff continues.
“They’re at a point where they’re beginning to test the market,” Elliotte Friedman said Saturday during the Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada. “Word is that they have asked teams to inform them who teams or interested parties would not be willing to move and also to begin to preparing formal offers for the unsigned Toronto winger.”
When asked by Friedman, Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas wouldn’t comment if the report was true.
Nick Kypreos reported that the Maple Leafs priority is still to re-sign Nylander and that contract talks are still ongoing.
Kypreos adds there are some suggestions that the Maple Leafs could offer Nylander a similar deal to what the Boston Bruins gave David Pastrnak – six years and $40 million. No official contract offer has been made.
If going the short-term route:
“We do believe that if the Leafs are going to make a short-term deal it might not come until the end of November in the last minute,” Kypreos said. “A lot of suggestions saying that number would have to be around $18 million for three years but right now still no traction.”
Kypreos also added that there have been no meaningful contract extension talks between the Mape Leafs and the camps of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
Friedman: I still think the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goal is to sign him, but they’re at a point where they’re beginning to test the market. Word is that they have asked teams to inform them who the teams and interested parties will not be willing to move, and also to begin preparing formal offers for unsigned Toronto winger.
I did ask the GM, Kyle Dubas, if this was accurate and he declined comment. But to our information, that is where we are at this point. The next phase is beginning.
Kypreos: I’m hearing the priority still is to sign him. The talks are ongoing. Some have suggested to me that that the Leafs may be willing to go to the Pastrnak contract — which is just around $40 million — over six years. My understanding, though, is that that isn’t an official offer as of just yet. But we do believe that if the Leafs are going to make a short-term deal, it might not come until the end of November in the last minute. A lot of suggestions are saying that number would have to be around $18 million for three years, but right now, still no traction.
Johnston: History tells us that it is likely to end up this way. William Nylander is the 21st player in the last nine years to go through this process beyond October without a contract as a group-2 player. Only one went longer than him — that was Kyle Turris in 2011. He signed with Arizona, but a few weeks later, was traded to Ottawa. There isn’t much recent history of RFAs getting this deep into the process and making a deal to stay with the team.