It’s absolutely wild to read reports of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ desire to trade William Nylander. Look, this isn’t just a “good player” argument. This is a guy the Maple Leafs should build around, protect and celebrate – and not even consider moving. And there are a handful of very simple reasons for that.
The Maple Leafs win without Nylander. Why don’t you trade it?
You may think I’m joking because it’s so ridiculous, but this was one real headline published today: “Maple Leafs keep winning without William Nylander. Should they trade him?” At first glance it sounds provocative. Maybe even reasonable if you read it quickly. The team is winning games (actually the article says 4-0-2), but Nylander is not in the lineup, so the question arises.
But when you think about it, the argument falls apart. It confuses getting through the moment with getting better, and confusing quick results with long-term growth.
Why do these Nylander trade proposals make no sense?
The problem starts with the assumption half-baked in the title itself. Winning without a player doesn’t mean a team is better; it just means that player is missing. Teams win games under strange circumstances all the time – with injuries, tired legs, backup goalies, a snow-delayed flight that leaves a team entering a game without sleep, or patched-together lineups. That tells you something about depth, structure or goaltending at that moment. It tells you almost nothing about whether removing a top player makes the team stronger over time.
It also depends on a small sample size. A half-dozen games without Nylander doesn’t suddenly rewrite years of evidence about what he brings: neutral zone creativity, controlled entries, escapes created from thin air and the ability to change the temperature of a game with one shift. By the same logic, you could say that teams should trade Auston Matthews every time they win a game while he’s injured, or move on from a starting goaltender because the backup stole a few nights. That’s not analysis, that’s ignorance.
Most importantly, the post in question never asks Why the Maple Leafs win. Is it purposeful? Schedule? Special teams? Quality of the opponent? That’s all important. Nylander’s absence is not a cause; it is just a condition. Treating it as evidence of redundancy is a logical and lazy shortcut.
Ultimately, the headline confuses a short set of results with a roster-defining insight. And so you end up asking the wrong question.
Here’s why the Maple Leafs shouldn’t consider trading Nylander
First of all, the man is an absolute magician on the ice. He’s so creative that the puck practically sticks to him. Escapes? He has countless (a year ago in a game against the Devils, he had three in eight minutes), and most of them are because he can read the ice, see the seams first, and take off for the neutral zone like he has eyes in the back of his head. He doesn’t just chase the play, he makes the play. He turns defense into attack in no time. That’s not something you replace with a prospect or a draft pick. That’s rare.
But here’s what makes Nylander a fit for Toronto beyond his skill set: he wants to be here. He loves the city. He loves the fans, plain and simple. Moreover, he does not avoid the energy; he welcomes it. The fans feel that and give it back straight away. You don’t get a band like that every season. And in a locker room full of young guys and veterans all trying to find their feet, a player who actually wants to be part of the city and the culture is a big deal.
Nylander brings the intangibles
And then there are the intangibles. Nylander works. He stays after practice, he sharpens his shots, he keeps skating long after most guys have left the ice. He’s a rink rat. That’s not flashy. That doesn’t make the highlight reel. But it’s true. Season after season, he produces and keeps Toronto in games where everyone else could crumble under pressure.
Oh, and the playoffs? The media investigation? The trade rumors? None of that seems to shock him. He shows up, plays and scores more than one point per game. He doesn’t complain. And he competes in a way that looks easy, even if it is anything but.
Why would the Maple Leafs even consider trading Nylander? They wouldn’t do that
So you think the Maple Leafs would trade Nylander? You’d be giving up creativity, a fan favorite, a guy that teammates really gravitate towards, and someone who really enjoys playing in Toronto. You don’t just replace a player who can change a game with one touch or one read. That’s why retaining William Nylander isn’t a complicated debate. It’s an obvious move.
Once such a player is gone, you won’t just find another player waiting for you.
Related: William Nylander for Adam Fox? Maple Leafs Insider is not interested
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