Report: Maple Leafs told Hurricanes they're not trading Nylander
The Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly informed the Carolina Hurricanes that they won't be dealing William Nylander.
TSN's Pierre LeBrun revealed as much on TSN 1050's "Leafs Lunch" on Friday.
"I can tell you that I know the Carolina Hurricanes are among the teams that have phoned of late to check in on William Nylander with the Leafs, just in case. As they should, by the way," LeBrun said. "(The Hurricanes asked,) 'Are you trading him?' They were told no."
LeBrun explained that an offer sheet from the Hurricanes for the restricted free agent forward is unlikely because that would require them to surrender a first, second, and third-round pick as compensation.
"The teams that probably need William Nylander the most are the teams that can ill afford to (surrender) the compensation, draft pick-wise," he said.
The TSN insider also added that the Leafs "are going to match almost anything that (other teams) are going to throw at William Nylander and then figure out the rest later," due to Toronto's wealth of cap space.
Nylander, who remains in a contract stalemate with the Maple Leafs as the season approaches, has produced 61 points in each of the last two campaigns.