Nylander contract discussion - New Poll

[SmoggyTwinkles]

I think there’s a very real chance he wants to test Free Agency. He’s a terrific player who can command top dollar, and it’s not like he’s ever been treated that well here. He might want to go somewhere else where he can be The Guy, rather than the afterthought he is here behind M+M.

Impossible to forget that last time around he held out until the last possible minute.

Equally important for the Leafs is if this team actually wants to continue down the path of having more 10m forwards than anyone else. Not like we have anything to show for it. Willy is a great player and it would be a shame to see him somewhere else, but I think management needs to choose between him and Marner and we all know how that’s going to turn out.

I predict that we move him at the deadline if we’re out of a playoff spot (unlikely) or he goes to UFA and we compete with the rest of the league to overpay for his services. This is the Leafs, why would it be any different?

Yeah. When media are reporting that Willy is totally cool with negotiating during the season, he's already gone.

They should get rid of Marner too.

Hot take right? Better get some good stuff back not just cap space.

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

And as far as the poll question............

Seriously it's almost 50/50 "own rental"?

No way. Nylander is a bluechip asset, not a bluechip prospect but an actualy proven roster elite-ish player. You don't let that guy walk because you think you can make a run in the playoffs.

You trade that guy to a team dreaming to have Nylander and get the most you can and shrug it off (especially when he gets 7 years x $10m or something, which we can't stomach here)

 

[Gallagbi]

And as far as the poll question............

Seriously it's almost 50/50 "own rental"?

No way. Nylander is a bluechip asset, not a bluechip prospect but an actualy proven roster elite-ish player. You don't let that guy walk because you think you can make a run in the playoffs.

You trade that guy to a team dreaming to have Nylander and get the most you can and shrug it off (especially when he gets 7 years x $10m or something, which we can't stomach here)

The offseason was the time to move Willy. Targeting a team on the playoff fringe hoping to improve for a first + NHL piece, use some of the money in UFA when it was a uniquely good year

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

The offseason was the time to move Willy. Targeting a team on the playoff fringe hoping to improve for a first + NHL piece, use some of the money in UFA when it was a uniquely good year

You are a GM and you put Willy on the table......... now you have a potential trade. And you work on it.

"but he can just walk"

Yeah, to any team. So you find a team that wants him, that might not get him when he's UFA, and you work out a deal that Willy and his agent are into.

You don't keep this guy as an "own rental" he's got serious value. He could be the top player on a handful of teams. Get what you can.

Hey, that's just what I'd like to see happen if he's not sticking around with the Leafs. And if he's getting 9+M we have to move on from him anyways, we don't have the cap.

 

[Gallagbi]

You are a GM and you put Willy on the table......... now you have a potential trade. And you work on it.

"but he can just walk"

Yeah, to any team. So you find a team that wants him, that might not get him when he's UFA, and you work out a deal that Willy and his agent are into.

You don't keep this guy as an "own rental" he's got serious value. He could be the top player on a handful of teams. Get what you can.

Hey, that's just what I'd like to see happen if he's not sticking around with the Leafs. And if he's getting 9+M we have to move on from him anyways, we don't have the cap.

Hes moveable, but its a worse trading spot now because you have more cap tied up with various teams and youre likely looking to add, not subtract

 

[Evilhomer]

And if he's getting 9+M we have to move on from him anyways, we don't have the cap.

They can easily afford a $9 million contract. But I hope you are prepared for Nylander's contract to be more than $9 million, because he is going to sign for more than that with the Leafs. I truly think this is a non-starter. Toronto is going to end up giving him close enough to what he wants to make him sign here. I think the casualty in all of this will be Samsonov. Like the Avalanche did with Kuemper, I fully expect that Toronto will win this season with Samsonov and then let him become a UFA because they won't be able to fit his next contract into their salary structure. But if you have to prioritize, you choose Nylander over Samsonov 8 days a week.

 

[PromisedLand]

Nylander is a precious commodity, you can't have a player like that as "rental"

you either work out a deal or do whats best for the team.

This Leafs team isn't strong enough to win the cup to even risk having Willy as a rental. Come on now....

 

[Evilhomer]

This Leafs team isn't strong enough to win the cup to even risk having Willy as a rental. Come on now....

They aren't the Cup favourite by accident. It's silly for you to say that this team isn't strong enough to win the Cup. You are being negative for the sake of being negative.

 

[Racer88]

Completely different. JT kept saying he loved it there and wanted to stay there and would re-sign over the summer and didn't want to talk about it during the season and "oops, free agent time - bye-bye".

I wonder why some Islanders' fans were upset? Nobody here would be mad at Willy if he did the same thing, would they?

I’m mad at him now for not signing a contract before the season starts. Lol

They absolutely have to trade him by the deadline if he hasn’t signed a deal yet.
At that point anything they get for him will be more when he walks July 1st

They aren't the Cup favourite by accident. It's silly for you to say that this team isn't strong enough to win the Cup. You are being negative for the sake of being negative.

They are not even close to being the cup favourite, they are barely serious contenders

 

[Racer88]

Everyone keeps going on about the cap rising but if we give all the increase to Marner Matthews and Willy it makes no difference if it goes up.
we still have the same distribution to 4 guys why can’t get it done in the playoff.
Just pilling more money on those guys fixes nothing

 

[Evilhomer]

They are not even close to being the cup favourite, they are barely serious contenders

Is this a defense mechanism on your part? I don't think there is an oddsmaker anywhere on the planet that doesn't include the Leafs amongst the Cup favourites.

 

[Racer88]

Is this a defense mechanism on your part? I don't think there is an oddsmaker anywhere on the planet that doesn't include the Leafs amongst the Cup favourites.

Not a defence mechanism just experience watching this group fail for the last 7 years. Same core, same coach suspect goal tending.
they have a few different supporting players and that’s about it.
Im sure they will do fine in the regular season but they have shown nothing over the last 3-4 seasons that they are any closer to winning a cup

 

[TheShape]

The time to move Willy for maximum value was in the off-season. Unless this team is clearly out of the playoffs by the deadline, don't expect Nylander to go anywhere.

We'll fight to retain him after the season, with the rest of the league either overpaying or losing out. Don't expect a "fair" deal here.

 

[ToneDog]

They can easily afford a $9 million contract. But I hope you are prepared for Nylander's contract to be more than $9 million, because he is going to sign for more than that with the Leafs. I truly think this is a non-starter. Toronto is going to end up giving him close enough to what he wants to make him sign here. I think the casualty in all of this will be Samsonov. Like the Avalanche did with Kuemper, I fully expect that Toronto will win this season with Samsonov and then let him become a UFA because they won't be able to fit his next contract into their salary structure. But if you have to prioritize, you choose Nylander over Samsonov 8 days a week.

If Willie mirrors Pasta's season last year (to a lesser magnitude of course), he will hold all the cards and Leafs will have to come close to his ask. IMO he will not be a Leaf next year if they do not sign him by the TDL. If he is on pace for 30-35 goals, he is going to soften some and might sign, if he is being honest and wants to be a Leaf. If the team fails to get by the second round, do you want to pay Willie $10m and run back this core again? Would Willie sign for $10mx8 knowing he will most likely be traded or will he simply walk? My guess is he would sign for $10m and is then traded to a team he agrees to go to before the draft.

 

[ToneDog]

The time to move Willy for maximum value was in the off-season. Unless this team is clearly out of the playoffs by the deadline, don't expect Nylander to go anywhere.

We'll fight to retain him after the season, with the rest of the league either overpaying or losing out. Don't expect a "fair" deal here.

If he agrees we can overpay him and trade him before the draft, or come to think of it they could wait until after his huge bonus is paid out on July 1st and then trade him.

 

[Evilhomer]

do you want to pay Willie $10m and run back this core again?

Yes, because the best odds to win result from having the most amount of talent. Professional sports isn't chemistry - the fact that one combination of things has in the past produced one outcome does not mean that the same combination will produce the same outcome in the future. The only constant with championship teams it that they have a tremendous amount of talent. Trading away one of your most talented players makes no sense unless you believe that you can get equal or better talent in return, and that won't be the case right now with Nylander. Sign him for something less than $10 million per season and it's a complete win for the team. Tavares probably only requires $6-$7 million on his next deal (which will also be with Toronto), so the team comes out ahead salary way anyway. I think the only change we will see is in goaltending, as Toronto probably will not be able to afford Samsonov's raise after this season.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Everyone keeps going on about the cap rising but if we give all the increase to Marner Matthews and Willy it makes no difference if it goes up.
we still have the same distribution to 4 guys why can’t get it done in the playoff.
Just pilling more money on those guys fixes nothing

The only difference will be that we hopefully don't have to pay Tavares anything, or at least a lot less, in two years.

Three overpaid forwards is better than four overpaid forwards.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Is this a defense mechanism on your part? I don't think there is an oddsmaker anywhere on the planet that doesn't include the Leafs amongst the Cup favourites.

"Amongst the Cup favourites" is one thing. "The Cup favourite" is completely different.

 

[ToneDog]

Yes, because the best odds to win result from having the most amount of talent. Professional sports isn't chemistry - the fact that one combination of things has in the past produced one outcome does not mean that the same combination will produce the same outcome in the future. The only constant with championship teams it that they have a tremendous amount of talent. Trading away one of your most talented players makes no sense unless you believe that you can get equal or better talent in return, and that won't be the case right now with Nylander. Sign him for something less than $10 million per season and it's a complete win for the team. Tavares probably only requires $6-$7 million on his next deal (which will also be with Toronto), so the team comes out ahead salary way anyway. I think the only change we will see is in goaltending, as Toronto probably will not be able to afford Samsonov's raise after this season.

Agree with most of what you say but IF the two sides cannot find an agreeable number or 88 wants to test free agency, it is better to get something for him. Losing Willie for nothing will leave a huge hole to fill.

 

[Evilhomer]

Agree with most of what you say but IF the two sides cannot find an agreeable number or 88 wants to test free agency, it is better to get something for him. Losing Willie for nothing will leave a huge hole to fill.

I can't disagree with that. I just don't think it will ever come to pass. Toronto will pay him more than any other team, particularly if he wants the 8th year.

 

[ULF_55]

What's a 1 year rental of Nylander worth?

2 years of Boeser?

Leafs are not in a position to trade him for futures.

 

[JEI]

What's a 1 year rental of Nylander worth?

2 years of Boeser?

Leafs are not in a position to trade him for futures.

Maybe another expiring UFA contract swap as a starting point? Leafs may not be willing to pay Nylander 10, but maybe another player, at a different position for 7 or 8?

 

[MavisGoldberg]

I would be shocked if Willy doesn't sign an extension. It's really nota big deal. Pastrnak toon until what February to sign?

 

[Sypher04]

I would be shocked if Willy doesn't sign an extension. It's really nota big deal. Pastrnak toon until what February to sign?

Agreed. And it was March I think.

 

[MavisGoldberg]

Agreed. And it was March I think.

The way things are treated in Toronto vs every other market is rather annoying, The guy loves Toronto and they'll figure it out. He can't get 8 years signing as a UFA.

The offseason was the time to move Willy. Targeting a team on the playoff fringe hoping to improve for a first + NHL piece, use some of the money in UFA when it was a uniquely good year

Leafs are going for a cup. That doesn't make them better. 6.9 gets eaten up fast.