Scouting the Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs
John Hoven: Scouts listed to attend last nights Kings-Maple Leafs game: San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers (Craig MacTavish), Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Why not trade Mathews?
Damien Cox: “John Tavares is playing so well it does make you think; why not sign Marner and Nylander, and trade Matthews for a whole pile of goodies? Not saying they would, but it’s not such a crazy idea any more. And that’s because of JT.”
The asking price for Nylander
TSN: Darren Dreger on Insider Trading on the Toronto Maple Leafs asking price for RFA forward William Nylander.
“There is a ton of interest as Bob has illustrated but the ask is going to likely include two pieces off the roster. My sources indicate it could be a top four defenceman along with a top-nine forward because the Toronto Maple Leafs believe to contend for the Stanley Cup, they’d have to add some key pieces and that forward would be very crucial along with a defenceman so it’s not an easy ask.”
A Leafs – Ducks trade proposal?
Bill Comeau: Nick Kypreos suggested last night the Toronto Maple Leafs trading William Nylander to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Brandon Montour and forward Nick Ritchie.
A third option for the Maple Leafs with regards to Nylander
Jonas Siegel of The Athletic: suggests that if the Maple Leafs can’t sign Nylander by December 1st they could just let him sit out the rest of the season.
The best outcome for the Leafs would be to get him signed before, even if it’s a bridge deal.
A Nylander trade could help the Leafs this season, there are no guarantees down the road, and part of Brendan Shanahan’s plan is to be a contender for multiple years.
They could get a defenseman and a forward for him, but in the long run, if you trade the best player in the deal you usually don’t win the trade.