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Toronto media kicks off William Nylander trade talks as Maple Leafs continue to win without him


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Alexander Cole
January 8, 2026  (8:52)
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May 7, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (88) skates with the puck against the Florida Panthers during the first period in game two of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena.
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander remains one of the best players on the team, but with the Leafs winning games without him, some analysts are talking.

William Nylander has missed the last few games with a lower-body injury, and despite this, the team is still on a seven-game point streak.
The top six is really coming together, and even the third line is starting to get some real contributions from guys like Nicolas Roy and Nick Robertson.
With that being said, there is quite a bit of chatter right now about how Nylander will slot back into the lineup and whether or not the Leafs will continue to win games without him.
In fact, on 'The Real Kyper & Bourne,' there was some talk about whether or not William Nylander should be traded in the middle of the season.

Nick Kypreos floats a Toronto Maple Leafs trade

Sam McKee and Nick Kypreos seemed keen on the idea of getting rid of Nylander, especially since he can be streaky, and his defensive effort is poor at times.
However, Justin Bourne was not a fan of this proposal whatsoever, noting that Nylander is the type of guy this team needs, especially since he leads the team in points.
Ultimately, the idea of trading William Nylander right now feels like a major stretch, and quite frankly, a terrible idea from a roster construction standpoint.
While Nylander is inconsistent at times, he is also incredibly good at what he does. You don't trade these kinds of players in the middle of a season, while you're in the playoff hunt.
The Maple Leafs are actually playing the Philadelphia Flyers tonight, and there is a world in which Nylander returns to the lineup.
If he has a big night, perhaps he will shut down that trade speculation for good. If the Leafs keep winning, the roster will have to be accepted for what it is.
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Toronto media kicks off William Nylander trade talks as Maple Leafs continue to win without him

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