Bob McKenzie: “The seemingly quirky CBA math potentially works well for TOR, which would like the higher (than the AAV) cap hit in Year 1 and lower (than the AAV) cap hit in subsequent years. Not so much though for some teams (who don’t have cap room) talking trade with TOR.”
Bob McKenzie: “And if Nylander wanted a heavy signing bonus and lower salary in Year 1 to make himself “whole” for time missed, it would significantly negate the club’s high Year 1 cap hit and lower cap hit in subsequent years. *they said there would be no math”
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Bob McKenzie was on TSN last night and stated once again that the Toronto Maple Leafs priority is to re-sign William Nylander. McKenzie adds that with the December 1st deadline fast approaching and they’d be crazy to not see what other teams would offer up in a trade.
“So that is what’s happening right now. There is some talk going back and forth, but I think it’s still in the early stages in terms of what you would call horse trading involving William Nylander.
“It gets complicated, and here’s why. We said all along that a team like the Carolina Hurricanes were interested, and they are – but for the right price. So our sense of it is that Brett Pesce would be available to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Jaccob Slavin wouldn’t be. And I do expect that the Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs will continue to have dialogue over the course of the week.”
McKenzie continues that the Los Angeles Kings would love someone like Nylander, but they may not have the pieces the Maple Leafs would covet and the Kings may not be able to fit the money in that Nylander wants.
The Anaheim Ducks have defensemen that the Maple Leafs would be interested in, but like the Kings, the money may not work.
The Minnesota Wild are another team that has spoken with the Maple Leafs in the past couple weeks, but they have their own salary cap issues and may not want to give up the defensemen the Maple Leafs may want.
The New York Rangers doesn’t have any salary cap concerns, but they don’t seem to be a fit.
“So you can see where this is going. Some of the teams want the player but don’t have the right fit. Some of the teams want the player, but don’t have the cap space or the ability to do any better than what the Toronto Maple Leafs would offer on a contract.”
TSN: Bob McKenzie on Insider Trading adds that the Florida Panthers could be a team that looks at Nylander.
“Florida is a team that will probably kick tires to see if there is any interest, but there’s going to be a lot of talk going on both the negotiation track and trade track.”