The Leafs and star forward William Nylander have not been on the same page this offseason at all. They have been working on a contract extension, but Nylander's wants compared to the team's flexibility is not coming together.
Nylander has made it clear that he wants an AAV of around the $10 million threshold, but the Leafs cannot meet that request, considering the other huge contracts of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares. Since this has not been working out between the two, it has become a possibility that Nylander gets moved in the offseason so that he can get that contract that he wants.
In the process of exploring trade partners, the Leafs have came across another superstar that is on the trade block that they just might send out an offer.
The San Jose Sharks and recent Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson are actively working on a trade to send the veteran to a Stanley Cup contending team to allow Karlsson one more opportunity to win a Cup.
With the Leafs continuously facing defenseman issues, acquiring Karlsson would be ideal for them, and it has been reported that the two teams have been in contact regarding this possible deal.
Although this would work out perfectly for the Leafs to have Karlsson on the roster, it will ultimately come at a pretty hefty cost consisting of at least a fellow star player. With Nylander coming off of a 40 goal season and the Leafs trying to find a trade partner, could this be the move that works out best for both teams? Only time will tell.
As Read On Blade Of Steel - William Nylander to the San Jose Sharks? Could the Maple Leafs and Sharks make this summer's blockbuster trade
Credits: Howard Berger - Twitter
POLL | ||
Do you think Karlsson would be a good fit for the Leafs? | ||
Yes | 1769 | 58.3 % |
No | 1266 | 41.7 % |
List of polls |