William Nylander drew a line with the board and said a full rebuild is the only way he leaves Toronto
Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
William Nylander just drew a definitive line in the sand regarding his future with a Leafs sweater.
The word inside the building is that
Auston Matthews will have a direct hand in the future outlook of the Toronto Maple Leafs roster.
Auston Matthews will have a direct hand in the future outlook of the Toronto Maple Leafs roster.
Nylander said that he would be comfortable with the Leafs doing an off-season retool, but that he's uncertain about the prospect of the Leafs rebuilding.
In a presser on Tuesday, MLSE CEO Keith Pelley navigated a strategic vacuum which path the Leafs would lead towards, if the team would tear it down entirely or do a restructuring of the lineup.
Unless it was a full rebuild and we were going to get rid of everybody, then it’s a different story. Then you take that conversation then. - William Nylander (via the Athletic)
Nylander said as well that outgoing GM Brad Treliving had not wanted to do a rebuild, but it's unclear what the Leafs plans are.
The retool promise died with the Treliving era and the next GM might have a much darker vision for the roster
What isn't known is if the Toronto Maple Leafs want a general manager to can commit to rebuilding the team in full, or someone who can fulfill Treliving's retooling goal.
For the player side, the interest of their star players is for the Leafs to make a quick turnaround rather than a teardown, and this could see their stars potentially seek an exit door.
It was reported earlier this week that captain Auston Matthews will have a say on the future outlook on the team. It would be thought that the Leafs captain's focus is on winning rather than a rebuild.
Looking to bounce back quickly, the players interest could sway the Leafs front office, if they're not already, straight to ensuring they hire a contending GM.
Nylander refused to say whether Matthews leaving would change his decision about staying in Toronto
One notable point by William Nylander, he says that the potential departure of Auston Matthews would not entirely have Nylander following him out either.
Although a Leafs rebuild and Matthews moving would likely accelerate the potential of Nylander leaving, he appears willing to hold firm and remain in Toronto regardless.
Whether Nylander holds firm or
eventually demands an exit from Toronto remains the $64 million dollar question as the board tries to keep this high priced roster from splintering.
eventually demands an exit from Toronto remains the $64 million dollar question as the board tries to keep this high priced roster from splintering.
Looking to satisfy the core of Matthews and Nylander, this could force MLSE to ensure that they're putting in a winning lineup, and a potential winning front office.
The Toronto Maple Leafs might choose to retool this off-season. But if things do not improve, it could force rebuild mode, and this could see the end of the Nylander-Matthews Era for good.
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Previously on Hockey Patrol
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 2|1308 ANSWERS William Nylander drew a line with the board and said a full rebuild is the only way he leaves Toronto Do you see William Nylander leaving the Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 626 | 47.9 % |
| No | 682 | 52.1 % |
| List of polls | ||