NHL Rumors: Insider Proposes Outlandish Maple Leafs-Kraken Trade

Friday, January 09, 2026 ,

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander reacts after scoring goal during 2025 game.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are winning games without William Nylander right now (6 of last 8), but that never stops trade talk from getting weird in the hockey capital of the world. 

Nylander has missed six straight with a lower body injury, yet he still sits at 14 goals and a team leading 41 points in 33 games. 

And on Sportsnet’s airwaves, Nick Kypreos reminded everyone (33 minute mark) that Toronto has at least explored the unthinkable before, saying the Leafs shopped Nylander in the recent past.

Why Kypreos shut down the Nylander-for-Fox chatter

Kypreos was reacting to the idea of a Maple Leafs and New York Rangers blockbuster, and he wanted no part of a William Nylander for Adam Fox framework. 

“I’m not doing that,” he said, arguing Fox has “dropped a lot” and adding that he wants “a stud back there for William Nylander.” Nylander is a legit top end winger, and Toronto has stayed afloat during his absence, so the bar for moving him is sky high...obviously.

Fox has piled up 67 goals and 397 points across 461 games in his seven year NHL career. He made Team USA's 4 Nations Face Off team last year, but drew a ton of criticism for his play in the tournament and in past playoff series. The 27-year-old was notably left off the U.S. Olympic roster for next month.

"I'm not doing that," Kypreos said. Adam Fox to me has dropped a lot, substantially. A few years ago, I would have said yes. I don't know, his game's fallen off. He's not big. He's not physical. He's got little presence like he did a few years ago. That's not the guy. I want a stud back there for William Nylander."

The trade pitch: Nylander for Montour and Oleksiak

Then Kypreos cranked it up. 

His proposed target was Seattle’s Brandon Montour and Jamie Oleksiak, and he framed it as a trade the Leafs would make to finally get them over the hump.

"I would do Brandon Montour for Willy and Jamie Oleksiak," Kypreos said. "You win with Montour. They won't trade him; Seattle won't trade him. He's their heart and soul."

With the Seattle Kraken, the 31-year-old Montour has recorded 24 goals, 57 points, a -26 plus/minus rating, and 135 blocked shots across 108 games and two seasons. Oleksiak has three goals, eight points, a +10 plus/minus rating, 63 blocks, and 52 hits across 39 games played this season.

It's pretty fair to say a trade like this probably will not be happening anytime soon.

Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images 

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