Report: Leafs Almost Traded William Nylander In Blockbuster Move In 2018

According to NHL insider Jeff Marek, the Toronto Maple Leafs were close to trading William Nylander to the St. Louis Blues in 2018 for defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. 

On The Sheet podcast, Marek revealed, "It wasn’t that long ago, it was pretty close that he was going to St. Louis and Alex Pietrangelo was going the other way to the Toronto Maple Leafs." 

At the time, Nylander was in a contract standoff with the Leafs, holding out until December before signing a six-year deal. 

Meanwhile, Pietrangelo was in the middle of a seven-year contract with the Blues, serving as their captain and top defenseman.

Another trade that almost happened from @JeffMarek on @thesheethockey today, William Nylander was very close to being traded to St. Louis for Alex Pietrangelo. #LeafsForever #stlblues #NHL pic.twitter.com/KU8ePUxX2S

— NHL Trade Alert (@NHLTradeAlert) February 6, 2025

Had the deal gone through, it could have changed the course of both franchises. 

Toronto would have landed a true No. 1 defenseman to pair with Morgan Rielly, addressing their long-standing blue-line issues. However, they would have given up Nylander, who has since developed into one of the NHL’s top forwards. 

For St. Louis, moving Pietrangelo might have altered their 2019 Stanley Cup run, where he led the team with 19 points in 26 playoff games and played a crucial role in securing the franchise’s first championship.

Look at William Nylander’s release on this one, he has Wolf in absolute hell here.
Looks like he’s going short side, has Wolf slide there, rips it far side.
Outside leg kick helps with the shot deception too pic.twitter.com/4vKQIVzv1J

— Rink Rat Report (@RinkRatReport) February 5, 2025

Looking back, the decision to keep Nylander appears to have worked in Toronto’s favor. 

Since the 2018-19 season, he has scored over 200 goals and become an elite offensive force. Now in the first year of an eight-year, $11.5 million contract, he has 33 goals and 55 points in 54 games. 

Pietrangelo eventually left St. Louis in free agency, signing with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2020, where he won another Stanley Cup.

Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images