Like him or not, William Nylander is still a hockey player, and his next contract will be a lucrative one. We understand that the Maple Leafs will have a hard time signing him while keeping Auston Matthews as well. We know that the Toronto team has always had the American in its plans, so Nylander could well test the free agent market next summer. According to Arpon Basu, Kent Hughes must do everything in his power to sign him, even if it means taking risks. <q>If the Habs decide it's time to be active on the free agent market, I think they'd target a forward, specifically, a winger capable of playing in the Top-6. They would have the space to aggressively target William Nylander if he hits the market, and all indications are that discussions between Nylander and the Maple Leafs are not going well. He'll be 28 at this point and has been one of his team's most consistent players in recent years, even in the playoffs, where he has 25 points in his last 25 games, as many as Auston Matthews. Nylander will cost at least $10 million a year on a long-term contract that will take him into his late thirties. There would definitely be a risk, but players like him rarely hit the free agent market. I'm not ready to predict that the Habs will sign him, but if I were in charge, I'd do everything in my power to get him under contract. - Arpon Basu</q> We're talking about a player who just put up 80 and 87 points and would have been by far the CH's best forward in the last two years. Sure, playing with Matthews, Marner and Tavares helps a lot, but he wouldn't be playing with bad players in Montreal either. With over $20 million in cap space for next year, Kent Hughes will have plenty of room to accommodate him, plus the team is moving in the right direction. If not Nylander, expect a big signing next summer.