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If you were looking for some sign of progress between the Toronto Maple Leafs and pending free agent William Nylander, both sides do not appear to be obliging.
The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reported on TSN’s Insider Trading that talks between the Leafs and Nylander’s agent Lewis Gross are continuing, that both sides are hopeful in getting a deal done, and that both have maintained radio silence. The only thing that is thought to be good news is that there have been indications since the start of the season when the winger told his representation to continue talks with Toronto that he wants to stay with the Leafs.
The situation for GM Brad Treliving is tenuous since Toronto is at risk of losing a valuable asset with nothing to show for it other than just under $7 million in cap space if the impasse between the two sides continues until after the season, as the situation with Johnny Gaudreau played out in Calgary. Treliving is likely not going to want to team chemistry and the Leafs playoff chances by trading their leading scorer before the trade deadline will likely look at Nylander as an own-rental while continuing to negotiate into next summer before free agency in July.
TSN’s Darren Dreger speculated that Nylander’s asking price may have gone up since the start of the season, when the Leafs may have hoped to get him for under $10 million. Now he believes that he might be looking for as much as $11 million per season.
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The Leafs will take on the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Saturday in their final game before the Christmas break. Toronto is coming off a 9-3 drubbing at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, in which Ilya Samsonov was pulled after allowing five goals on 19 shots.
Samsonov gave up six in the overtime loss to Columbus last week, so head coach Sheldon Keefe will switch back to veteran Martin Jones. Keefe is also tinkering slightly with his lineup after a poor defensive performance against Buffalo, with Mitch Marner and William Nylander flip-flopping spots in the top six. Marner once again will lineup with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, while Nylander will skate with Tyler Bertuzzi and John Tavares.
At practice on Friday, William Lagesson replaced Conor Timmins on the bottom pairing with Simon Benoit, leaving open the possibility that Timmins will be a healthy scratch.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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