NHL Analyst's Bold Trade Idea Would Blow Up Maple Leafs' Core Four

Nylander signed an eight-year, $92 million extension in January 2024. He's coming off producing 84 points in 82 regular-season games, adding 15 more points in 13 playoff games. 

However, Nylander failed to score a point after Game 3 of the second-round series against Florida and went scoreless in the deciding Game 7.

Pang noted the contrast between Nylander's offensive flair and the defensive responsibility expected in Berube’s system.

"I see a guy that can skate real well," Pang said. "I see a guy that can make a play, gets open, gets opportunities."

The analyst believes the Leafs could benefit from flipping Nylander for multiple assets.

"You want to blow things up? Make a move that you can get one player out and get two players back," Pang said. "All the managers have done that over time."

Pang also thinks that adding multiple assets could be key for the team's depth, as Toronto could lose two of their best forwards this offseason in pending free agents Mitch Marner and John Tavares.

"Lacking some depth in that top nine..." Pang said. "You might not have John Tavares. You won't have Mitch Marner, from the sounds of it."

Marner is about to complete his six-year, $65.4 million contract and will be eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1.

Tavares, meanwhile, just wrapped the final season of his seven-year, $77 million contract signed in 2018.