William Nylander Sets Clear Condition for Staying with Maple Leafs

As per Jonas Siegel and Chris Johnston of The Athletic, William Nylander has erased any doubts about what his plans are as the Toronto Maple Leafs undergo serious off-season changes. With questions about how committed he is to the team, the two scribes write in a post on Thursday, “William Nylander wants to stay … if, that is, the Leafs remain committed to chasing Stanley Cups and not tearing it all down.”

---

In other words, try to win, and I’m in. Plan a rebuild, and I’m not.

Nylander was quoted as saying:

“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. But just to do a retool or whatever, I don’t even know, but I mean, I still want to be here, yeah.”

Nylander confirmed that he’d already passed this message on to previous management. Brad Treliving said he had no intention of rebuilding, but the team might retool. “That sounded fine for me,” said the Maple Leafs skilled winger.

How Quickly Can the Maple Leafs Turn Things Around?

The Maple Leafs have the pieces to remain competitive in the short term, but questions remain about how quickly they can truly retool into a Stanley Cup contender. With stars like Auston Matthews and Nylander still leading the way, along with a solid goaltending tandem and improving young talent, the foundation is far from broken.

That said, there are holes. Notably, the lack of a true No. 1 defenseman is a problem, as is needing to find a reliable second-line center. Those aren’t easy fixes via trades or free agency, which makes a quick return to elite-contender status far from a given.

The Leafs could surprise if things break right early next season, potentially convincing Matthews to stay long-term. Maybe they add a top-six forward. However, if the team stumbles out of the gate, their position (and Nylander’s) could shift dramatically.

Next: Is Craig Berube Burning Out the Maple Leafs’ Stars?