Quoting: Affectionate_Side_64
It matters because that's the entire reason he's not going to be a Leaf, if he were to accept a $7 mil contract we probably wouldn't be having this discussion. As to your question about spending that $6.5 on Anderson and Guehle, yes, that would be amazing cap allocation. If you let Willy walk for free what 2 players are you looking to acquire in FA for similar value? Not even close to realistic.
More silliness about letting Nylander walk for free. But that logic, the Leafs should be trading Bertuzzi, Domi, Nylander, Matthews, Lafferty, Brodie, Giordano, and Samsonov as they are UFAs next season and haven't been resigned. Should the other 100 upcoming UFAs in the league by traded by their teams because they haven't been resigned?
Cup contending teams don't worry about upcoming UFAs they are trying to win NOW. Cup contending teams actually acquire upcoming UFAs to their them for a Cup run knowing full well they won't be resigning those players.
Sorry, there is no reason to think that Nylander is so unique that he HAS to be traded.
And Anderson is, and I know it's opinion, is a bad contract by comparable wingers in the league.