dreger has been trying to get nylander out of town for a couple years
This misconception is wrong and misleading, yet has been regurgitated here over and over.
Dreger hasn't been trying to get Nylander out of town.
He's reported, many times, that teams have inquired as to one of the 3 Leafs star young forwards. He then always goes on to say that the Leafs have no interest in losing Marner or Matthews, but that for a steep price, they have been open to negotiations over Nylander.
He's also reported that since the #1 glaring need for this team is a solid #1 defenseman who is relatively young, that the Leafs would have to pay a hell of a high price in order to get one. That price would almost assuredly include Nylander.
Why, do you ask, does the guy always fall back to mentioning Nylander in these hypothetical deals? Well, easy. Since their draft, Matthews and Marner have been looked at as not only cornerstone pieces, but foundation blocks to championship teams. Nylander is not in the same conversation as those 2, and if push does come to shove and one of the 3 has to go, it sure as hell won't be Matthews or Marner.