Nylander vs Pastrnak: may the best 6ft 29yo RW #88 win - how do you think they stack up ?

[HamiltonNHL]

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[Gary Nylund]

I'm so sick of player A vs player B threads because they always seem to be pitting out players against each other. But now one of ours against one of the Bruins, now that's a refreshing change.

I approve of this thread!

 

[BertCorbeau]

Pasta and it’s not that close. He’s had a meh series but has a history of production.

Overreaction comparison

 

[ACC1224]

Pretty silly.

 

[ULF_55]

When you watch them play, I don't think it is skill or ability, but structure and attitude.

Let's not neglect that Pastrnak has 1st. line minutes, and Nylander 2nd. line minutes due to Matthews and marner being on the team.
Nylander: 14:35 ES TOI/g, 2:44 PP TOI/g
Pastrnak: 15:12 ES TOI/g, 3:12 PP TOI/g

 

[ULF_55]

 

[Mickey Marner]

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. He had a great game, we need another one out of him tomorrow.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

If the Leafs win, it'll be good bragging rights for Willy with his buddy David.

 

[LeafsNation149]

I would trade Nylander + a first for Pasta

So there’s your answer

 

[DraftSchmaft]

One thing I noticed is Pasta lacks Nylander's agility to open up lanes in tight checking games.

I do not see the Bruins ever winning a cup with Pasta as the no.1 guy. He needs way more help than he has right now.

 

[willmma]

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That's incredible.

They are not comparable in looks though.

 

[ULF_55]

Pastrnak peaked, and is in a downward motion.
Nylander is still on an upward progression.

(This is tongue in cheek ... it is sad I have to add this but you gotta know the audience.)

 

[HamiltonNHL]

One thing I noticed is Pasta lacks Nylander's agility to open up lanes in tight checking games.

maybe Pastrnak is a "regular season darling" like Marner and Matthews.

 

[DraftSchmaft]

maybe Pastrnak is a "regular season darling" like Marner and Matthews.

To be honest I'm hesitant getting drawn into comparisons and "whose better" stuff, but objectively speaking I noticed this one specific trait (contrast) between the 2. Pasta is inferior if we're focusing on skating and breaking systems down. Nylander has had a knack for skating through systems over the last 4 playoffs.

Last night was a good example. He made something out of nothing on goal 1. I haven't seen Pasta use his legs to open up lanes. He's more of a hunter, needs to get lost and hope his linemate finds him so he can unleash his elite shot.

 

[Tak7]

This series aside - Nylander's peak has generally been Pastrnak's norm

 

[aingefan]

The similarities are neat.
I like Willy as a creator more. But it’s not as if you’re going wrong with either guy.
Lotsa great talent in that first round though.

 

[djdev]

on a leafs related broadcast it was put quite nicely. willy will beat you by getting around you, pasta will go around you or THROUGH you if needed. hes been punished this series, limiting his success, but to me hes still a better player by a good amount imho.

 

[Jojalu]

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View attachment 864061

One thing about Pasta is that his one playoff run where he was fantastic has elevated his PPG stat.

You can't take that away from him because he was lights out.

But in the playoffs, both Matthews and Marner have had more PPG year than him, and Willy has the same.

Someone has to get hot on the Leafs and put up 30 in 24 games and everything looks different

 

[666]

I would trade Nylander + a first for Pasta

So there’s your answer

And Boston would still easily reject it.
Due to Nylander's poor defensive play he's a full tier below Pasta.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

hockey DB stats

David Pastrnak Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of David Pastrnak, a hockey player from Havirov, Czech Rep. born May 25 1996 who was active from 2012 to 2024.

www.hockeydb.com

William Nylander Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of William Nylander, a hockey player from Calgary, ALTA born May 1 1996 who was active from 2011 to 2025.

www.hockeydb.com

 

[Stephen]

Over their careers Pastrnak has been a way more opportunistic, efficient and consistent producer than Nylander. He’s a lot scrappier and I think the difference to date is not that he does it better than Willie. But just more frequently.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

sick of player A vs player B

For sure.

It’s just fun because they are friends.

And I’d love to see Willy not get the short end of the stick - as he usually does.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Nylander set to flip the narrative.

 

[Maple Leaf]

View attachment 864122


Nylander set to flip the narrative.

this guy better score some goals in game 7

 

[Ciao]

Comparisons aside, I was really happy for Nylander last night. He was the first star, and owned Pasternak and all the other Bruins.

That was a good game for Nylander and the Leafs.