Update from Dreger following reports of a serious KHL offer for Willaim Nylander.

There were some very interesting developments over the week-end when it comes to the contract talks between the Maple Leafs and talented young restricted free agent William Nylander. The strange part however was that those developments had little to do with the Maple Leafs or Nylander themselves but could still have a very significant impact on the talks between the two parties.

Nylander, arguably one of Toronto's top forwards, remains without a contract now well into the 2018 - 2019 National Hockey League regular season and there have been zero signs of progress in negotiations. Reports have suggested that Nylander is seeking upwards of $8 million per season on a long term deal while the Leafs and general maanger Kyle Dubas would like to get a deal done in the range of $6 million to $6.5 million per season on a long term contract. That leaves the two sides roughly $2 million apart in each season and with neither side budging it appears that other organizations around the hockey world smell blood in the water. 

A pair of bombshell reports over the week-end indicated that at least one, and perhaps more, team in the Kontinental Hockey League has very serious interest in bringing Nylander onto their roster and by the sounds of things they either have made or are prepared to make Nylander a significant offer. TSN insider Darren Dreger was a guest on TSN 1050 in Toronto on Monday morning when he was asked about the rumors that have been running Wild over the last 48 hours or so.

“Right, and none of this should be surprising,” said Dreger when asked about the reports over the week-end. “The KHL often will look at NHL players, particularly NHL players without contracts - and Nylander doesn’t have one of those - and of course they would have some interest. The question is does William Nylander have the type of interest whereby this is going to go anywhere.

“And I suspect - I haven’t checked into this - I suspect that there would be interest from the Swedish Elite League and other European leagues as well. But I think collectively, the KHL included, most believe that at some point Nylander and the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to find a way to come to terms. They haven’t yet, it doesn’t sound like there’s much progress being made on a day-by-day basis, but these are one of the few things that actually help the Nylander camp because this is a bit of a pressure point, even though it’s not about the money outside of the NHL. William Nylander, of course, would be a star in the Kontinental Hockey League. 

Now there's definitely some good news in there for the Maple Leafs. First and foremost it appears that, at least according to Dreger, that Nylander has his heart set on returning to Toronto and that may take away a considerable chunk of his newly found negotiating power. That being said though Dreger also believes that as the deadline approaches Nylander and his camp are going to have seriously consider those KHL offers on the table.