Quoting: Gordon_Bombay
You simply cannot trade Tavares and trading Matthews would be very stupid.
So you have a team with no cap space to improve.
Nylander is on a much better contract and is doing better with your franchise player Auston Matthews.
Also, ask the Calgary Fans about Johnyy hockey. He also had 90 points a season ago and a lot of people think he should be traded. And he is not as expensive
You're right, you can't trade JT or Matthews, that's a terrific 1-2 punch down the middle.
You have little cap space, but unless they're trading Marner for a guy like Jones (which CLB won't do) then they aren't improving, they're getting worse and hoping to improve later.
Nylander is on a cheaper (not better) contract because he's not as good as Marner. Marner leads all Leafs forwards in SH TOI/GP and is 3rd among forwards in PP TOI/GP. He's an all-around player that has elite offensive skill.
Also, I don't think I'll ask Calgary fans anything because he isn't Mitch Marner so they can't really know anything about it. In 6 season he has a single 90pt year and an 80pt year. Marner has a 90pt year and was on pace for another 90pt season this year but due to injury and covid19 he didn't get to finish it. Half his seasons are 90pt years or ones where he was on pace for it. He's more expensive because he's a more valuable player. No disrespect to Gaudreau because he's fantastic but there's a reason he has that contract.
Lastly, with all of that said I know Marner is overpaid but being overpaid doesn't mean Nylander and Gaudreau are better players.