William Nylander for Adam Fox? Maple Leafs Insider Has No Interest

There’s always going to be noise surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs — that’s the territory that comes with playing in the mecca of hockey for a fanbase that lives and breathes by its team.

In 2025–26, that noise has mirrored the season itself: a roller-coaster ride filled with ups and downs and plenty of twists and turns. As a result, just about everything has been speculated on, and the latest rumor to take on a life of its own is the idea of moving William Nylander, especially as the Maple Leafs have surged back into playoff contention during his injury absence.

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Sportsnet insider Nick Kypreos has been at the forefront of pushing GM Brad Treliving to at least explore the market for his superstar winger, whether that be at the deadline or in the offseason. Those discussions continued on Monday’s Real Kyper and Bourne show, though when the idea of a Nylander for Adam Fox one-for-one swap was pitched, Kypreos was quick to shut it down.

Kypreos said:

“I’m not doing that. No, I’m just saying that Adam Fox to me has dropped substantially. A few years ago, I would have said yes. I don’t know, his game’s fallen off. He’s not big, he’s not physical, like, he’s got little presence like he did a few years ago. That’s not the guy. I want a stud back there for Willy Nylander,”

The 29-year-old Nylander has produced 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in just 33 games played in 2025-26. He’s in the second season of the eight-year, $92 million extension he signed with the Maple Leafs in 2024.

Meanwhile, Fox, 27, has clipped at nearly a point per game from the back end this season, having tallied 28 points (four goals, 24 assists) in 30 games. He’s in year four of the seven-year, $66.5 million extension signed with the Rangers back in 2021.

If Not Adam Fox, Then What For William Nylander?

Since Kypreos clearly isn’t interested in a Nylander-for-Fox swap, it begs the question of what kind of return he’d actually be looking for in a deal involving the 2024 All-Star.

The good news is we learned just that, as he went on to propose a two-for-one deal with the Seattle Kraken for Brandon Montour and Jamie Oleksiak. Kypreos prefers Montour’s hard-nosed style, ability to impact winning, and Stanley Cup pedigree, while also valuing the added depth Oleksiak would bring over Fox alone.

As strong a fit as Montour would be in Toronto, if the Maple Leafs are truly going to move on from one of — if not the— most talented players on their roster, they need a player of similar ilk back, especially having just let Mitch Marner walk out the door this summer.

Fox may not be the exact prototype they’re looking for, but his skill set aligns more closely with Nylander’s than most available options, which could make him one of their more realistic trade targets when all is said and done.

Next: The Tables Have Turned on the Mitch Marner Toronto-to-Vegas Move