We Now Know Why Matthews and Nylander Haven't Signed Yet

Toronto Maple Leafs' fans are eagerly waiting for updates on Auston Matthews and William Nylander's contract extensions. It's still July and both players have plenty of time left on their contracts, so there's no rush, but it seems like there's a problem holding things up.

Based on what we can see, both players want to stay with the Leafs. One of them is even willing to take a pay cut for the benefit of the team.

That makes sense, right? After all, most athletes want to win in the end.

But it's more complicated than that.

According to Elliotte Friedman, Nylander won't agree to a lower salary unless Matthews does the same. And to make things even more complicated, Matthews won't sign until Nylander signs his contract.

Instead of this tough negotiation, both players could agree to lower salaries to improve the overall strength of the team.

How can the team maintain a cooperative and friendly atmosphere in the locker room with all of this happening? While Matthews might be excused because of his skills, the same can't be said for Nylander.

Many teams have realized that a successful team needs a harmonious roster without any conflicts. Brad Treliving seems to understand this. His recent acquisitions of Ryan Reaves, Max Domi, and Tyler Bertuzzi, who are all praised for their leadership skills, demonstrate his understanding. Now, it might be time for him to ease the team's burden by trading Nylander.

Do you think Treliving should trade Nylander?

As seen on Hockey Patrol