Quoting: palhal
It seem obvious (although) we'll see eventually that a long term deal isn't going happen, due to Nylander's contract request. What other alternatives is there to both sides than a shorter deal? Nylander should have known that the Leafs aren't going to make him a top 5 paid RWer in the league right now. The only way to achieve to the is to sign a short term deal, and hoping for greater returns later.
Fans are sure naive if they believe anything that players, agents or team executives say publicly about contract negotiations. Almost always it's same stuff,,,,"I want to stay with this team long term. I love the city and its fans" and management says, "We love Player Joe Doe, we hope he is long term member of the team" Very rarely does any side say they "want out" and only want a short term deal. Even Trouba said last summer he wanted to stay. Look no further than Tavares and what he said, "I want to stay an Islander" almost till the end.
Again if they can't agree on the money for a long term deal...and they been discussing for two months, there is virtually no alternative to both parties than to sign a short term deal. It takes two parties to sign the deal, despite the most logical argument from CapFriendly ACGMs saying a about 7m X 8 years is "historically" fair.
Tavares is the first star player to leave his team as a free agent. He did that for 2 reasons, #1 TO is home #2 The Islanders have been a **** show for his entire career. He left because it was the right thing to do for him. Nylander I don't think just wants money, I think he wants to win and he wants to be comfortable. All of that can happen in TO.
There is no reason to believe anything other than that. You are manufacturing a belief based on nothing but speculation and conjecture. Looking at this logically, both sides have openly said they want the same thing. Dubas has said he wants a contract that won't hurt the team so he has a range that he knows he'll be able to work with. Now its their job to find the middle ground that both teams are happy with.
Here's the thing with Nylander's case though. If he holds out much longer, he risks losing his spot in the lineup. What if Ennis finds awesome chemistry with Matthews or Tavares? What if Bracco impresses, or Grundstrom or Kapanen or Johnsson? What if Babcock decides "player X" is working too hard not to get an opportunity and since nylander is sitting, lets give him that spot and he kills it?
Nylander can't really afford to wait too long, the team is way too deep and he'll lose all his negotiating power. If he wants a short term deal under 5 million, it would have been signed by now. I doubt management would cause a hold out on that, since if he plays well enough to earn a huge 3rd contract, they could trade him for a huge return.
There is literally no evidence to support your belief.