The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a position of power with young holdout winger William Nylander.
The Leafs began the season 6-1 without Nylander, 22, and they have no shortage of young and exciting forwards, beginning with NHL goal-scoring and points leader Auston Matthews, who is in the final year of his entry-level contract.
Matthews will soon get extended and make Connor McDavid money — league-high $12.5 million cap hit — and Toronto already has high-priced forwards in veterans John Tavares ($11 million cap hit) and Patrick Marleau ($6.25 million).
Nylander’s three-year career in Toronto appears over, because of his salary demands and the fact the Leafs need to bolster their blue line.