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Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly testing trade market for William Nylander

By James Reeve

TORONTON, ON - JANUARY 6: William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on January 6, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Canucks 3-2 in an overtime shoot-out. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTON, ON - JANUARY 6: William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on January 6, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Canucks 3-2 in an overtime shoot-out. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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There are 19 days left to get William Nylander signed and it appears that the Toronto Maple Leafs are now actively testing the trade market for him.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander have been locked in contract negotiations that have never really looked to progress far, and now the team is starting to look at other options around the league.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Hockey Night In Canada, via Mike Johnston, the Toronto Maple Leafs have contacted teams around the NHL to see who they would be willing to part with, as well as to begin preparing formal offers.

“They’re at a point where they’re beginning to test the market.” – Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

The restricted free agent has consistently been rumoured to want close to $8 million per season, whereas the Leafs have him valued closer to $6.5 million.

While both parties are still hoping to get a long-term deal done, various other options have been reportedly looked at and this latest development is the most significant to date.

Locking Nylander down to a short-term deal isn’t ideal, as his performances could end up with him demanding more from the team in 2-3 years, something the team is wary of considering the big contracts they need to tie up next season in Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews.

Without Nylander in the line-up, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a record of 11-6-0 and sit 2nd in the Atlantic Division, three points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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The team is in a strong position, even with Matthews also out with a shoulder injury, and are in no mind to budge on their expectations with the young Swedish star.

Teams around the NHL that are interested in Nylander will need to offer a substantial package if they have any real hopes of making the Leafs make the decision to give up on negotiations with the eighth-overall pick in 2014.

Kyle Dubas will undoubtedly demand a Top-Four quality defenceman in any package for Nylander, with the Leafs still needing something extra along the blue-line.

A 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins highlights the team’s need for another top blueliner if they have legitimate hopes of contending for the Stanley Cup.

The preference is, however, still to sign Nylander to a long-term deal and trading him away might be viewed as a failure no matter how good the return for him is.

There are only 19 more days to get a deal done or trade his rights away, so things should move far quicker in the coming weeks.

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What do you think Leafs Nation? What do you think about this recent development? What is the best-case scenario for Kyle Dubas and the Leafs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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