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Toronto Maple Leafs waiting for William Nylander to realize his privilege

By Paul Taylor

TORONTO,ON - DECEMBER 6: William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs heads back to the bench after scoring the eventual game winner in the shoot-out against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on December 6, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Flames 2-1 in an overtime shoot-out. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO,ON - DECEMBER 6: William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs heads back to the bench after scoring the eventual game winner in the shoot-out against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on December 6, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Flames 2-1 in an overtime shoot-out. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Deadline day is here, and time is almost up for William Nylander to save his season and agree a new deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

William Nylander isn’t going anywhere. However, that doesn’t mean he’s going to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.

After weeks (months) of speculation, we’ve reached decision day. Nylander has until 5 pm E.T. on Saturday to agree a new deal with the Leafs, or he will have to sit out the remainder of the season.

On Thursday, TSN‘s Pierre LeBrun reported that the Leafs had advised teams to put forward their best trade offer for the young winger. However, it still seems extremely unlikely he will be actually moved.

Even though this saga has gone on way longer than anyone anticipated, both team and player would still prefer to maintain a long-term relationship. It would take a truly exceptional trade offer for the Leafs to say goodbye to Nylander at this point.

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By the same token, don’t expect the team to back down when it comes to negotiations with the 22-year-old. As far as they are concerned, they are being as reasonable as possible, especially when considering the restraints that come with a salary cap (along with several other key negotiations pending).

In this respect, as much as Leafs coach Mike Babcock likes Nylander and wants him back in the fold, consider his comments to the media on Friday. As reported by The Athletic‘s Jonas Siegel, Babcock said:

"“We’re not begging anyone to be a Leaf. That’s not what we’re doing at all. It’s a privilege to be here – for me and for everybody else.”"

After repeatedly expressing his confidence Nylander would return to the team this season, this represents a different approach from Babcock. And while this could be rooted in frustration, his most recent comments still hold strong.

It is a privilege to play hockey, whether it be for the Leafs or any NHL team. Is Nylander really prepared to lose a full season of playing a game which has a limited shelf life?

As we’ve written previously, the 2014 eighth overall draft pick is in a no-win situation with this standoff. The more the Leafs continue to win without him, the less relevant he becomes.

If Nylander returns and the team loses any momentum — fair or not — he’ll receive a huge portion of the blame for upsetting the harmony. And if he continues to sit out and eventually does get traded, the likelihood is he’ll end up on a team with weaker championship prospects, both short and long term.

Blue-liner Morgan Rielly insists the team hasn’t been distracted by Nylander’s absence. As reported by TSN‘s Mark Masters, Rielly said:

"“It’s not even anything we think about. It’s not anything we really talk about. If he’s here in a few days then great, if not we’re in the same position we are right now, we feel pretty good about it so we’re not overly worried.”"

Often, when professional athletes make comments such as this, it’s tough to believe them. However, even if the team is talking about the situation, it’s hard to argue with Rielly when he says they feel good and are not particularly worried.

You only have to look at the standings for evidence of this, with the Leafs entering Saturday’s slate of games just one point off the top of the Eastern Conference and the NHL as a whole. Only two teams have scored more goals, which again highlights how little Nylander has been missed.

Of course, this does not mean the Calgary, Alberta native couldn’t help the team; similarly, you know he would be welcomed back with open arms. However, he now has less than 24 hours to realize his privilege, or lose a season which he’ll never be able to get back.

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So, what’s your prediction for how this plays out? Will Nylander sit out the season, agree a new contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, or be traded? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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