BBA, not so clear cut and dried.
Depends on how much a buyer will go on Nyl for his rep/potential, vs what he's showing lately; and, how desperate Leafs are for cap, and if they prefer this v. other options.
Nylander showed great form and there is reason to think he can return to that form, but his current value is less than that optimal based on latest performance.
Also, Nylander may demonstrate growth but he is really just a speedster with a good=>great shot, who being righty is a plus. This guy is not great defensively. I don't think I say he is soft, but is, like, another Schieffle? No.
Now in the right situation, although nothing is a given until it is proven, the right combos = chemistry, and special common positive factors with chemistry = synergy. Nylander as righty shot RW would excel with the uber-physical Kreider at LW and the adequately physical Nieves at pivot. Such would be average plus otherwise on balance, but be way above par on speed, and in most sports, most of the time, speed kills.
But your issue was it was not enuf for Leafs, nor of any benefit to them.
Disagree.
While Leafs need more than just this, they clearly need G upgrade who is cheap. Georgiev on elc is that.
Second, if they move Nylander, to whomever, they will need cheap replacement. Strome is nowhere near the sniper Nylander is, but he is a 5OA guy with serious potential only now being realized, who = a more physical alternate to Nyl. He may only chip in a third to half the goals we guess we will see from WN, but he does so at half the price, and is a fine stop gap at worst. At best, they get a year to decide how long they want to get hitched with him.
Third, cap, cap, cap.
Both my deals got like a 6.5 ish instant relief, with more cap available depending on options with Marc Staal. Hell, if they suddenly have glut of F, they can flip Strome also.
They will need every nickel since Matthews and Tavares [the latter even w/hometown discount] are huge #s, and Marner will be AT LEAST 10m per.
While not the only mathematical combo, moving Marleau w/out retention to a place that can afford to take him, to where he'd be willing to go, and moving Nyl, will ensure Marner and that is a priority for TOR.
If you put a gun to my head, I'd be open to a 3rd in a couple of years which conditionally can morph into 2 2nds, IF after a coupla years, Nylander hits certain targets, and is available to play X number of games, AND demonstrates acceptable levels of production [points, +/-, etc.].
But in totality I wouldn't add otherwise.
And as to counter-offers, where is there favorable cap to Leafs?
Again, possible, but I'm not seeing it.
best...
