How long do you except the Nylander at center experiment to last?

[usernamezrhardtodo]

17.25 games

Can you be a little less vague?

 

[Jojalu]

And if we had a guy like Schifele on this team or kept ROR then that's fine because those guys are centers.

Nylander is a winger.

They have never really tried it for an extended period of time.

You have to give it 20-40 games to really make a fair assessment of whether or not he can do it at the NHL level.

Playing a period here or there isn't enough information to be conclusive evidence

 

[diehardleafsfan9878]

Every year Nylander goes off to play for Sweden he plays center. He has always been a center. The reason his defensive game is so bad on the Wong is because he legitimately doesn't know what to do defensively as a winger. He's always put of position because his natural center instincts force him into positions where the center should be.

 

[WillyC]

It will last until they trade him as a center… I just don’t see Nylander making 10+ million as a Maple Leaf.

 

[Racer88]

It will last until they trade him as a center… I just don’t see Nylander making 10+ million as a Maple Leaf.

Crap you beat me to it……..

 

[Stephen]

The way Keefe projects tend to go, I would expect maybe 1 period in the regular season, but kidding aside I think it's a worthwhile project. If you can develop Nylander into an impact 2C, it gives you more reasons to want to pay him the contract he's asking for as you're extracting more value. It's in our best interests this works out.

 

[Notsince67]

He will last as long the second and third line is producing. The playbook is only half a page long

 

[Jmo89]

For the next 7 seasons. He will go back to wing for the last 2 seasons of his next 8 year contract, after winning back to back cups with the Leafs and a Conn Smythe.

Oops, I got into the whisky again.

 

[IPS]

The way Keefe projects tend to go, I would expect maybe 1 period in the regular season, but kidding aside I think it's a worthwhile project. If you can develop Nylander into an impact 2C, it gives you more reasons to want to pay him the contract he's asking for as you're extracting more value. It's in our best interests this works out.

If Nylander can magically carry his production over into playing 2C with a respectable 2-way game (doesn't need to be elite or even good, just ok) then re-signing him is a no-brainer.

I'm skeptical though.

 

[Guided by Veseys]

In a short tournament I think he would be almost elite at C, might even outshine Matthews. Over the course of a long, boring ass 82 NHL regular game schedule I don’t think he is capable of carrying that load. It’s like seeing Jordan Romano save a dozen games in a row and assume he could be a number two starter. Nylander rises to the occasion, sort of, so maybe a full year as a C will show what he he is truly capable of. Maybe he thinks he is better than Petterson and wants that top C Sweden designation. Could be interesting.

 

[sxvnert]

Until the media stops asking about his contract extension.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I laugh when people claim it’s been tried and failed. It’s hardly ever been tried. When it’s been done it’s not lasted long, not because Willy played poorly in the role, but because an injured player came back or whatever. We’ve maybe never chosen to go to Willy at the role with a healthy lineup as we’re doing now.

Another thing people don’t consider is our lack of winger depth in previous years was a real hindrance to being able to actually keep nylander in the middle.

He’s got all the tools to play the middle, contrary to popular belief he does backcheck, and if he can stick it balances out our forward group while also making our center ice a matchup nightmare for opposition

This also allows us to put Tavares and Nylander with players who actually play into their strengths

So you laugh at reality then

 

[notDatsyuk]

I don't think it last long at all, especially if it means Lafferty on the 2nd line, that's just stupid.

But even if it doesn't mean Lafferty on the 2nd line It's been tried It's failed every time.

"he did it in the AHL.

Yes he did 7 years ago, it hasn't worked since.

I don't think it lasts very long.

I think Nylander will end up back in the top 6 on the wing very quickly

I think you're confused by a post that shows:

Domi - Nylander - Jarnkrok
Knies - Tavares - Lafferty

and thinking Lafferty is on the second line.

With those lines, it's pretty clear that Willy is 2C and JT is 3C.

That makes much more sense.

Even if it doesn't last all season (does any line combo?), I would not be surprised if he is the regular 2C by the end of the season or by the start of the next.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I think you're confused by a post that shows:

Domi - Nylander - Jarnkrok
Knies - Tavares - Lafferty

and thinking Lafferty is on the second line.

With those lines, it's pretty clear that Willy is 2C and JT is 3C.

That makes much more sense.

Even if it doesn't last all season (does any line combo?), I would not be surprised if he is the regular 2C by the end of the season or by the start of the next.

Regardless Lafferty can't play regularly with Tavares

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

I don't expect Nylander to remain in the centre position for very long simply because he isn't a capable centre.

They just keep trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole.

The problems with Nylander are multiple. He's always the first to blow the zone and the last man back. His avoidance of all things physical is shocking for a hockey player.

His battle level is not set to compete.

He's not an NHL quality centre. Not a good one anyway. Certainly not one that earns what he's asking for.

It's never worked before in the past.

Which is the exact reason they're gonna try it again. Only this time it sounds like they're giving him an extended look. It can't possibly end well.

Like walking with one foot on each side of a barbed wire fence.

 

[Sypher04]

So you laugh at reality then

I just clearly laid out why the statement is a misrepresentation of reality, but sure.

 

[tmlms13]

Until the first time he makes an on-the-fly change and jumps for the RWer instead of the center of the previous line and makes the team take a too many men on the ice penalty

 

[ACC1224]

Until the first time he makes an on-the-fly change and jumps for the RWer instead of the center of the previous line and makes the team take a too many men on the ice penalty

Doesn't the Center always jump first regardless of who comes off?

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Until the first time he makes an on-the-fly change and jumps for the RWer instead of the center of the previous line and makes the team take a too many men on the ice penalty

Oh youmean until the first coaching penalty

 

[justashadowof]

I don't know how serious they are about auditioning Nylander as a center but it makes perfect sense to do. He has the player attributes of an NHL center, let's see how he handles it. It should be much more than a pre-season audition. If Matthews or Tavares is missing a game, Nylander should automatically be expected to slot in as a top 6 center. He can prove (or not prove) his future worth at that position with his extension/UFA contract looming. It either solidifies a strategy of him taking over from Tavares in the future in this role or eliminates it from consideration for that or possibly makes him a more attractive commodity for another franchise to acquire and extend.

 

[justashadowof]

Until the first time he makes an on-the-fly change and jumps for the RWer instead of the center of the previous line and makes the team take a too many men on the ice penalty

Players substitute on for a specific teammate most of the time. And it's not completely uncommon for there to be two centers or 3 wingers on the ice or 2 same-side defenders for a short while during a line change. Line changes on the fly are one of the least complicated things happening during a game if everyone is paying attention.

 

[Apex Predator]

Give him 20 games to start the season and then let’s judge from there. He is going to struggle at times but we need to see how he adjusts and reacts when he struggles.

 

[ACC1224]

Oh youmean until the first coaching penalty

Why would you think that's a 'coaching penalty'?

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Why would you think that's a 'coaching penalty'?

I always refer to too many men on the ice as a coaching penalty

 

[ACC1224]

I always refer to too many men on the ice as a coaching penalty

Why? That's on the players 99% of the time.