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Winnipeg Jets: Three thoughts on a William Nylander fit

By Dylan Paré

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 31: William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets compete during the first period at the Air Canada Centre on March 31, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 31: William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets compete during the first period at the Air Canada Centre on March 31, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 21: William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs waits for a face off against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period at the Air Canada Centre on February 21, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 21: William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs waits for a face off against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period at the Air Canada Centre on February 21, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made it clear that William Nylander is available on the trading front. The Winnipeg Jets would make a really good destination for the young and talented right wing/centreman, but does it make sense taking all other factors into consideration?

Thought #1 – Adding another centreman could be lethal.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are already 18 games into their season and William Nylander continues to sit out with no contract. The current RFA has been holding out, in hopes of a much larger deal than the one being offered by Toronto. Neither side has given in, leading to Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas beginning his search for a trade partner.

Last year, the Winnipeg Jets made a huge splash at the NHL Trade Deadline, acquiring Paul Stastny from St. Louis for a first round pick, a fourth round pick, and prospect Erik Foley. Stastny brought a lot to Winnipeg, including a fabulous end to the season and an even more terrific post-season. Not only that, but our team’s depth was unbelievable. We had guys who would be on the first line anywhere else, playing on our team’s second and third lines.

Sadly, Stastny didn’t re-sign in the offseason, returning us somewhat back to what our lines looked like before he was acquired. I can say, there’s a massive difference now that he’s not in our lineup.

William Nylander has put up 61 points in both his full campaigns with Toronto. He’s a guy who’s capable of scoring upwards of twenty goals, with a boatload of assists on top of that. Putting him into our top six… scary. Not scary for us, but for anyone else who would face the Nylander improved Winnipeg Jets.

With Nylander in our top 6, that would make less room for one player. This essentially means that whoever doesn’t fit is likely being shipped out. We’re either looking at bumping Little down to the bottom six, while sending either of Andrew Copp or Nic Petan to Toronto, or we’re looking at sending Little himself.

Little has been with the team since the beginning, but it wouldn’t necessarily be the worst thing for us. Currently he has a deal which pays him an annual average salary of $5,291,666 for the another five years. Just think about it, having to sign Nylander in our cap situation, while having Little play on the third line? It’s not that easy. Little’s totals are already beginning to dwindle, as he only has 3 goals and 3 assists in 16 games this season.

Little is also likely to get us a bit more in terms of cap space than a guy like Copp or Petan, bringing us to our next thought.

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