Dubas and Fletcher watch Leafs-Ducks in Anaheim
Lance Hornby: Toronto Maple GM Kyle Dubas and senior advisor Cliff Fletcher were in Anaheim last night to watch the Ducks and Leafs.
Leafs may have to alter asking price
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.
A $5.33 million cap hit for Nylander wouldn’t cripple the Maple Leafs
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.
Will the Maple Leafs or Hurricanes budge?
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.”