Fansided

3 trade targets for the Edmonton Oilers this offseason

By Logan Lockhart

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 27: Tomas Hertl #48 of the San Jose Sharks during the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on March 27, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Sharks 4-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 27: Tomas Hertl #48 of the San Jose Sharks during the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on March 27, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Sharks 4-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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May 20, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (88) carries the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of game one of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (88) carries the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of game one of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

1. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs

William Nylander fits in on a Toronto Maple Leafs team that currently sees four players occupy half of its cap hit. Nylander’s stock since he was drafted with the eighth-overall pick in 2014 NHL Draft has surely dipped, but that doesn’t mean his trade value has severely suffered, in the eyes of Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas.

Nylander’s supreme offensive talent is undoubtable, but his status in Toronto will continue to be in question if the team faces another early-exit from the postseason. Pending UFAs Frederik Andersen and Zach Hyman make the Leafs’ approach to the offseason one of the most intriguing to follow, and their performance in the playoffs will dictate whether the winger’s $6.9 million cap-hit is vital to the team’s success in the Auston Matthews era.

The Oilers as a trade partner to Toronto would be an interesting story to follow in itself — both have a number of key pieces set to hit free agency, and share the same salary cap woes. Depending on who Dubas decides to let walk into the open market will answer all the questions for what Edmonton would have to give up the other way, in order to align with the Maple Leafs’ immediate needs.

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