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3 reasons the Minnesota Wild shouldn’t consider William Nylander

By Luke Ryan

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 8: Goalie Devan Dubnyk #40 of the Minnesota Wild is partially screened by William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on November 8, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 8: Goalie Devan Dubnyk #40 of the Minnesota Wild is partially screened by William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on November 8, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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ST. PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 14: William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs handles the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on December 14, 2017 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN – DECEMBER 14: William Nylander #29 of the Toronto Maple Leafs handles the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on December 14, 2017 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Signing William Nylander would either require the Minnesota Wild giving up way too many draft picks or potentially a player like Matt Dumba.

Whilst players like Nylander don’t exactly come onto the market every day, it is generally easier to acquire a strong winger who could fill in as likely a second-line center than it is to find good young right-handed defensemen.

Giving up Matt Dumba, as has been floated, would not necessarily be tantamount to blowing the team up, but it’d certainly be unwise.

In Dumba, you have a 24-year-old signed to a team-friendly(ish) deal, especially when you compare it to the boat anchor deals that Zach Parise and Ryan Suter are on.

Granted, William Nylander is two years younger, but chances are if you offer sheet him you’re paying in the $8 million bracket as that’s what he’s rumoured to be holding out for.

Beyond that, you’re giving up draft picks that realistically are far more useful to new Minnesota Wild General Manager, Paul Fenton in building a team in the shape of his personal vision.

Alternately, if you go the trade-and-sign route, you’re still over the barrel for at least $7.5 million. The Minnesota Wild already have two deals at that rate and it’s not wise to add another.

Sacrificing Matt Dumba to make the deal work is not a smart move. Defensemen that are capable of putting up 50 points in a season don’t pop up every day.

Wingers that put up 60 points; they’re more available.

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