Nylander's Massive Contract Demands may Force the Leafs to Trade Him

Nylander has always been vocal about his self-worth. He has a reputation for being tough during contract negotiations, which was evident when he signed his current deal.

Nylander, who might feel undervalued right now, wants a significant increase in his salary, and he doesn't seem willing to negotiate.

He is asking for a new contract worth over $9 million, which is a lot of money for a player at his level. He has proven himself with an impressive performance, scoring 87 points last season, which puts him among the highest-paid players in the league.

On the other hand, the Leafs are suggesting a salary closer to $8 million, which seems reasonable when compared to players like Sebastian Aho, Roope Hintz, and Mika Zibanejad, who are earning between $8.4 and $8.5 million.

In contrast, top-tier players like Kirill Kaprizov, Mikko Rantanen, and Matthew Tkachuk are making between $9 and $9.5 million.

The significant difference between these two groups suggests that Nylander might be overestimating his value. This could make the Leafs seriously consider trading him.

Several factors need to come together for Nylander to be considered for a trade:

-His strong stance on the high-priced contract.

-A team willing to pay over $9 million.

-A team that can offer the Leafs assets to stay competitive in the short and long term.

The possible trade package would include a player or two slightly below Nylander's skill level, along with a promising young player and a high draft pick.

There is talk of a potential trade that could look like this:

To TOR: Elias Lindholm, Matthew Coronato, and a 2024 3rd round pick.

To CAL: William Nylander, with a contract extension of 8 years at $9 million per year.

As seen on Hockey Patrol - Nylander's Selfish Contract Demands May Force Trade