William Nylander got a no-trade promise from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
There’s no such thing. This is pro sports, where there’s lots of lying.
After a lengthy holdout from his NHL team, Nylander signed a six-year contract that pays him $6.9 million annually. The contract didn’t contain a no-trade clause — a perk some top-notch, proven players receive — but general manager Kyle Dubas said he intends to have Nylander in Toronto “as long as we can.”
Nylander said Dubas vowed to never trade his player, even though the Maple Leafs will soon be facing a salary crunch when they negotiate new deals with budding superstars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
Situations change. Money enters the equation. Not many players perform at a peak level for the entire duration of their contracts. There are lots of well-informed pundits who believe Dubas will need to trade Nylander pretty darn quick. It may not happen soon but never is a long time.