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Did The Maple Leafs Try To Trade William Nylander?

Trey Daubert / NHL / January 20, 2024

Did The Maple Leafs Try To Trade William Nylander?

William Nylander is having a career year and has recently been rewarded a mega contract extension prior to reaching unrestricted free agency. Apparently, giving Nylander an extension wasn’t universally agreed upon within the building in Toronto. It sure sounds like the Maple Leafs really tried to trade number 88.

Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts had some interesting comments on his latest episode.

🏒 New 32 Thoughts Podcast 🏒

As part of the #HockeyDay in Canada celebrations in Victoria, BC, @JeffMarek and @FriedgeHNIC chat about a possible Canucks trade for Guentzel, the Leafs looking at the bigger picture, and more!

🎧: https://t.co/tQEzuNGFaH

Presented by @GMCcanada pic.twitter.com/6BV9O8UB8Q
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 19, 2024

I don’t think we can just ignore that little nugget. If a team was willing to trade a high caliber defenseman, it sounds like Nylander could have been traded. We can’t overly speculate but I find it insane that there wasn’t a single team that stepped up here and offered a defenseman in a trade. If Nylander was actually on the block, the rest of the NHL screwed up.

Nylander, 27, has 59 points in 43 games this season.

Are we sure Brad Treliving is a good general manager? He created the mess in Calgary and got fired because of it. Now we find out that he almost traded Nylander for a defenseman. Keep in mind, Treliving tried to improve the blue line this offseason by signing the single worst defender in the sport.

William Nylander Is NOT The Problem In Toronto

The Leafs will have to improve their defense at some point but at least Nylander is under contract long term. The offense is set. Now it’s about building the bottom six and finding a capable blue line. Until those things happen, the Leafs will likely stay on the outside looking in on Stanley Cup contention.

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