William Nylander now linked to Canadian rival in latest rumours!

It’s been a while since the Toronto Maple Leafs have offered fans an update in the William Nylander contract situation. The Finnish forward is reportedly looking for a new contract north of $10M in Toronto, however, it is obvious that the Maple Leafs can’t afford to sign another double-figure deal. The focus in Toronto is also on Auston Matthews, and then Mitch Marner next summer. As we hear very little on developments, this has allowed fans to speculate about what may come next for Nylander, and if you ask Arpon Basu of the Athletic, like one fan has in a recent mailbag, he could end up with the Montreal Canadiens.

Because Habs GM Kent Hughes has been quiet this offseason, it is believed - and hoped - that he will be more active in free agency in the summer of 2024. And thanks to the salary cap, which is expected to increase considerably next summer, Hughes could pull a blockbuster move and sign Nylander as a free agency, if he cannot come to an agreement with the Maple Leafs.

“If the Canadiens decided it was time to get active in free agency, I would imagine they would target a forward, and more specifically a winger to fill out their top six. They would have the cap space to make a serious run at William Nylander if he makes it to market, and it doesn’t sound as though talks on an extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs have gone all that well thus far. He will have just turned 28 two months before July 1, 2024, and has been a remarkably consistent scorer for the Maple Leafs, even in the playoffs — in his last three playoffs he has 12 goals and 25 points in 25 games, matching Auston Matthews’ point total over that span.

"Nylander will cost at least $10 million a year on a long-term deal, one that would take him into his mid-30s. There’s definite risk there, but players like him rarely make it to market. I’m not willing to predict the Canadiens will sign him, but if I were running things, I would do everything I could to make it happen.”

At the moment, it isn’t hard to believe that Nylander could end up on the free agent market with the hefty contract he is seeking in Toronto and the Maple Leafs unwilling to budge.

Nylander has one more season remaining on his contract that carries an annual average value of $6,962,366. In 521 career NHL games, all with the Leafs, he’s scored 177 goals (including having scored a career high 40 last season) and 253 assists for 430 career points.

He could be quite the addition, with any team for that matter, but you have to imagine it’d hurt Toronto even more to see him land in Montreal.

Recommended articles:

• New factor enters Nylander’s negotiations and it’s not what the Maple Leafs’ forward wants!
• Maple Leafs “should not budge” when it comes to re-signing William Nylander!
• Grim update on William Nylander's negotiations with Maple Leafs
• Mitch Marner willing to jump into Matthews / Nylander contract negotiations
• Stunning trade scenario emerges for Erik Karlsson - William Nylander monster swap!