Updates on the Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander
TSN: Updates from Pierre LeBrun and Bob McKenzie on Insider Trading on Toronto Maple Leafs restricted free agent William Nylander.
Pierre LeBrun: Believe that Maple Leafs may have held some internal talks about waiting until the trade deadline if they don’t like the offers they are getting from teams for Nylander. Since he’s not able to play in the NHL if he’s not signed by December 1st, those trade deadline offers would come from non-playoff teams.
“But it could be that a non-playoff team that doesn’t require his services until next season anyway might pony up the kind of assets that could help the Leafs in a playoff run this year. Not the likeliest scenario, but nevertheless an option that is on the table for the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
Bob McKenzie: Plan A for both sides is still likely getting a deal done. One agent’s prediction on what a deal could look like:
“a three-year bridge deal – four million in the first year, five million in the second year, seven million in the third year. That would be a $5.33 million AVV.”
That is likely more than Maple Leafs want to go and less than what Nylander’s camp wants.
Hurricanes GM confirms the Hurricanes interest in Nylander
TSN: Carolina Hurricanes GM Don Waddell was on TSN 1050 radio yesterday and confirmed on air that they have interest in trading for Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander.
Waddell says that he believes the Maple Leafs are trying to get Nylander signed and trading someone like Nylander isn’t easy to do.
“Well I think probably multiple teams in the league have talked to Kyle just to see what’s going on,” Waddell said. “We’ve talked over a period of time because we have young players that we’re also trying to sign here. So we’ve had many discussions throughout the summer time and as the season’s gone along here about their player versus what we’re trying to do with some of our young players getting signed also.”
The Hurricanes rank 26th in goal scoring and Waddell says they have been talking with teams about adding offensive players.
Waddell said that he hasn’t spoken with Nylander’s camp about a potential contract as it is too early for that.
“We haven’t even got down that far, but if I was fast-forwarding and there was something that made some sense, then we’d have to reach out,” Waddell said. “It wouldn’t do us any good to trade for any player in this situation without knowing that we could sign the player also.
“My thinking is that until you even get to a point where you think you can potentially have a trade, I think you’re putting the cart in front of the horse. I’d rather be in a position where if I knew something was going to happen down the road, then you pick up the phone and find out if there’s a deal to be made. Being in this spot multiple times myself, I don’t want to create any illusion or conflict between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nylander trying to get signed. I think it’s unfair for me to get into that mix, unless of course something was moving forward as far as a acquiring a player.”
