William Nylander’s UFA status next July prompted some off-season speculation suggesting the Toronto Maple Leafs could trade him if a contract extension proved too expensive.

That trade chatter died away with Nylander’s blazing-hot start to this season. Riding a 17-game season-opening points streak, the 27-year-old winger leads the Leafs with 27 points and is also among the NHL’s scoring leaders.

It was believed negotiations between Leafs management and Nylander’s representatives were shelved until the end of this season. However, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported last Thursday that there was “ongoing dialogue” between the two sides.

Nylander’s current average annual value is about $6.962 million, per PuckPedia. His performance thus far is putting him in line for a significant pay raise.

The Toronto Sun‘s Lance Hornby noted there was thought to be a difference of between $1 million between the two sides this summer within the range of $8 million and $9 million annually. However, he cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, suggesting that might not be realistic anymore. Meanwhile, the Toronto Star‘s Kevin McGran thinks Nylander’s supposed $10-million asking price during this summer might have been a bargain.