Insider Jeff Marek Leaks Failed Blockbuster Trade Involving William Nylander
Former '32 Thoughts' co-host Jeff Marek revealed on his show 'The Sheet' that the Maple Leafs nearly made a massive deal involving superstar William Nylander.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are reaping the benefits of superstar William Nylander's rise to stardom. Coming into this season with back-to-back 40 goal seasons, the Swedish phenom is set to hit that mark again this season, and has been a huge bright spot in a year filled with some very dim moments.
But things could have been much, much different according to NHL Hockey Insider Jeff Marek.
William Nylander Nearly Traded For Alex Pietrangelo: Jeff Marek
Yup, you read that right. William Nylander was nearly traded to the St. Louis Blues for Alex Pietrangelo.
Marek talked about the deal with former NHL GM and analyst Pierre McGuire:
Pietrangelo and the Maple Leafs were linked back in 2018, as an Elliotte Friedman '31 Thoughts' article (there were only 31 teams back then) states:
I see two reasons. First, Nylander is six years younger. Second, they might not be able to fit Pietrangelo's extension (he's eligible in July) and would prefer someone with term in that particular trade. It doesn't mean they can't/won't re-consider him in the future."
While we know the trade never materialized, it's wild to wonder what both teams would look like if it had.
Nylander would no doubt of been a star in St. Louis alongside Brayden Schenn, Ryan O'Reilly (who he would later become teammates with in Toronto), Vladimir Tarasenko, as well as former Leafs Alex Steen and Tyler Bozak.
But Pietrangelo played such a crucial part in their Stanley Cup victory that season that it's hard to imagine them having the same success without him. That season he posted 13 goals, 28 assists, and 139 blocks in the regular season.
But in the playoffs, he had a blistering 19 points in 26 games while playing outstanding defense to help the Blues to their first Cup in franchise history.
Toronto's defense would have looked incredibly different as well. At that time, Pietrangelo and Morgan Rielly would have been a top pairing in the NHL, and added much needed assistance to a team employing Ron Hainsey, Travis Dermott and Jake Gardiner.
It's a trade that would have no doubt shaken the landscape of the NHL for years to come, and would have given both teams an exceptional player to work with. It's just a matter of what if, as many trade proposals seem to go.
