Jeff Marek reveals a trade failed involving William Nylander to a Western Conference team

The 2018-19 campaign was one disappointing one for Leafs' enthusiasts. Toronto amassed 100 points (46-28-8) but, in a disappointing first-round defeat, in seven lost to the Boston Bruins.

Perhaps no narrative that year was larger than William Nylander's dispute with a new contract.

He was a restricted free agent who had played most of a full season with no new deal, holding out until almost December 1. Any later than that, and he would have become a free agent and might well have signed with another team.

Back then, he managed a meager seven goals and 27 assists in 54 contests played. NHL insider Jeff Marek recently revealed that then-GM Lou Lamoriello nearly traded Nylander for St. Louis Blues' bruiser Alex Pietrangelo when negotiations broke down.

All things considered, it's a lucky one that one did not go through. In the years following 2018-19, Nylander mustered 202 goals and 448 points, proving himself as one of the league's most exciting forwards.

Pietrangelo, a high-scoring, high-value blue lineman, mustered 67 goals and 272 points in that same period, valuable, but not in even in the same ballpark offensively.

Now, the Leafs are at a similar impasse over a new deal with Mitch Marner. Whatever happens with that one, one thing is for sure: Nylander's an integral part of the Leafs' heart and soul, and his worth today is many times his worth in 2018.