The 27-year-old and the Maple Leafs have reportedly hit a "standstill" with contract talks. Is that situation worth a closer look for the Capitals?
The Washington Capitals are still looking to revamp the top-6 and have some players in mind, and a new target is potentially emerging as William Nylander extension talks have reportedly hit a wall.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman told NHL Network earlier in the week that extension talks between Nylander and the Toronto Maple Leafs are at a "standstill."
"I think that they aren't close," Friedman said. "Unless someone really budges [on] their position, that one is going to stay on a standstill."
There's also the possibility that Nylander will wait until Auston Matthews signs his extension to see what raise Matthews gets before taking less money.
Still, with talks hitting a wall, general managers could start to gauge interest from Toronto, and Brian MacLellan could be among them.
MacLellan said that he is targeting a top-6 player between 25 and 30 and also told Capitals reporter Mike Vogel that there are some players he is targeting that need an extension and remain available.
Not only that, but Nylander has several connections to D.C. The Swede is a big fan of Nicklas Backstrom and played alongside Rasmus Sandin for years, and also worked well under new Washington bench boss Spencer Carbery.
It wouldn't be an easy trade to pull off, likely requiring sweeteners and picks with primary trade chips, given Tom Wilson is not being traded (yes, that's been confirmed). Meanwhile, trade chips Evgeny Kuznetsov and Anthony Mantha don't have the highest value at the moment.
Still, it seems this is a longer-term situation that could wait until the regular season, giving Kuznetsov and Mantha the chance to raise their value and allowing the Capitals time to evaluate the state of the team.
Nylander recorded a career-high 40 goals and 87 points last season for his second consecutive 80-plus point season. The 27-year-old has broken out and showcased his skill while showing the league that he has hit his prime; now it's just a matter of maintaining that consistency.
While nothing on the trade front appears to be in the works right now, it wouldn't be surprising for teams to see where negotiations are at.