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In this edition of the hotstove, we discuss which team would be the best trade match for William Nylander and the Toronto Maple Leafs should the latter be forced to make a deal.
Todd Cordell
In the event William Nylander is traded, I think the Carolina Hurricanes are the best match.
They are desperate for another quality offensive player and have an abundance of defenseman who would interest the Leafs. To me, Brett Pesce would make the most sense given he is a 23-year-old rock-solid defender who's signed through 2023-24 at a very affordable rate. He plays the right side, too, which is a big area of weakness for the Leafs.
The Hurricanes also have some interesting young forwards they could include (Warren Foegele, Valentin Zykov and/or Janne Kuokkanen come to mind) to help fill some of the void that'd be created with Nylander out of the mix.
It's tough to acquire fair value when trading a potential superstar but I think the Hurricanes are the best bet to come close to providing it.
James Tanner
If history tells us anything, it's that in the NHL you can't get fair value for an elite young winger. You could possibly get futures, but if you're in win-now mode like the Leafs, you are probably going to get screwed on the return.
Unless a team is willing to give the Leafs Zack Werenski, Charlie MacAvoy, Rasmus Dahlin or Evan Bouchard, this is probably a losing proposition. (And no one is trading those players).
The best fit for Nylander is any team. He is elite. He is the proper ice-time for someone of his skill away from being a top-ten scorer. His first three years in the NHL compare very favorably to Taylor Hall.
But the Leafs would be trading from a position of weakness and they would be lucky not to make the worst trade in franchise history. For the Leafs, that's saying a lot.
I put the odds of a Nylander trade at zero percent, but if I had to pick a team that could trade for him, I'd say the Coyotes because they are in need of an elite scorer, and could possibly offer up Jacob Chychrun and a couple of Picks the Leafs could then flip to help them win now.
Sean Maloughney
The Hurricanes seem like a team that could get this done. The Canes have a few contracts like Justin Williams that come off the books next season.
The Leafs would certainly like to acquire a young right shot defenceman like Brett Pesce but he is a player who fits into Carolina's long-term plans. Other options like Justin Faulk would still provide the Leafs with another weapon on the backend but he alone would not equal Nylander. Perhaps if Faulk was paired with another potential skilled forward who has yet to meet his potential such as Valentin Zykov.
Peter Tessier
This is a tough question because while Nylander would help more than a few teams the return has to be beneficial to the Leafs now not just in the future. Does Dubas need more prospects on the Marlies? No, he needs defense, particularly a right shot one. So look to the obvious and not so obvious...
Carolina
St. Louis
Philadelphia
Columbus
Anaheim
I look at them based on the assets they have that would best fir the Leafs with return not based on need to trade or other factors. The one thing for sure is I would not send Dubas a lifeline though if I were a rival GM. He took on 11 million a year with Tavares knowing that his next three were coming due and this is his situation. Nylander's camp knows it too because if he sits the Leafs get nothing in return and this is there window right now they need him or a good return. The next 3 weeks should be so much fun to watch.
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