William Nylander appreciation thread
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Shooter2x
Registered User
- Nov 3, 2021
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My girlfriends brother is a huge Panarin fan so I'm forced to follow this guy at times.
I can tell you there's no difference between the two so far this season in fact Nylander has been better at times. Nylander is an absolute steal and it's amazing watching him hit his ceiling. He still has more to give too. Next year, year after, it's only going to get better. Lock him up and make him retire a life long Leaf. Anyone with an eye for hockey knew this breakout was a matter of when and not if.
I can tell you there's no difference between the two so far this season in fact Nylander has been better at times. Nylander is an absolute steal and it's amazing watching him hit his ceiling. He still has more to give too. Next year, year after, it's only going to get better. Lock him up and make him retire a life long Leaf. Anyone with an eye for hockey knew this breakout was a matter of when and not if.
Sweet Leaf
Registered User
Ina roundabout way..it's worked out well for us that he's pretty much always been worse than his potential should indicate. If he had always played to his potential, he never would have lasted as long as he did in his draft and would be making more money right now.
Like Keefe, I still get the feeling that Willie has more to give than what he's shown but he's been great regardless. And playing with Tavares has been great for his game cause it opens up the ice for him and Tavares is a great playmaker.
Like Keefe, I still get the feeling that Willie has more to give than what he's shown but he's been great regardless. And playing with Tavares has been great for his game cause it opens up the ice for him and Tavares is a great playmaker.
That little 2 man game between him and JT last night on the first goal was a thing of beauty.
So simple in some ways but requires reading off each other and making little skill plays extremely quickly. Turning something that for most players would be a nothing play into a breakaway and beautiful finish.
So simple in some ways but requires reading off each other and making little skill plays extremely quickly. Turning something that for most players would be a nothing play into a breakaway and beautiful finish.
Bought tickets to watch Matthews, Marner, Tavares, McKinnon, Makar....stayed for Nylander.
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
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He's been pretty good. Noticed him on the PK last night, good way to get him more ice time.
He is so strong on the puck, and uses his edges so well. I am not sure there is anyone on the team that can accelerate as quickly from a dead stop. So many times you see willy just toy with defenders by stopping and changing directions. He will gain the blueline, stop up, accelerate to open ice and make a play. If you play hockey, you know how exhausting that type of skating is. You can tell he keeps himself in amazing shape, and his leg strength is off the charts. That sudden change in direction of the stop/starts combined with the puck protection is what makes guys like Crosby and Tavares so hard to defend in the offensive zone.
I have been critical of Willy in years past, only because I genuinely believed in him. I always felt he was just as talented as Mitch and Auston, but he needed to play a game that was less north south. He has done just that over the last 2 seasons. He is an absolute force out there. Him, JT and Kerf is a nightmare to defend I imagine. Has to be one of the stronger cycling lines in the NHL. Strong F1 presence with Kerf, And once Willy and JT get that puck below the dots, it's very hard to get it off of them.
Willy deserves a ton of credit. He has been the whipping boy countless times. He just tunes it out and plays his game. We saw his leadership earlier this year with him giving some love to a struggling Ritchie, and by all accounts he is mentoring the young swedes on the team in Sandin and Lilly. He has matured in the same level that we saw with Kadri a couple years back. Completely redefined his game, and just an unsung leader of our group. You never really get shortchanged on effort from Willy anymore, which I never would have believed 3-4 years ago
I have been critical of Willy in years past, only because I genuinely believed in him. I always felt he was just as talented as Mitch and Auston, but he needed to play a game that was less north south. He has done just that over the last 2 seasons. He is an absolute force out there. Him, JT and Kerf is a nightmare to defend I imagine. Has to be one of the stronger cycling lines in the NHL. Strong F1 presence with Kerf, And once Willy and JT get that puck below the dots, it's very hard to get it off of them.
Willy deserves a ton of credit. He has been the whipping boy countless times. He just tunes it out and plays his game. We saw his leadership earlier this year with him giving some love to a struggling Ritchie, and by all accounts he is mentoring the young swedes on the team in Sandin and Lilly. He has matured in the same level that we saw with Kadri a couple years back. Completely redefined his game, and just an unsung leader of our group. You never really get shortchanged on effort from Willy anymore, which I never would have believed 3-4 years ago
Duffman955
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- Mar 4, 2010
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Oscar Peterson
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- Jun 27, 2015
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Willie's been amazing for us this season, it's crazy how strong he is on puck battles along the boards and his approach to shooting has gotten so much better compared to his rookie/sophomore campaigns, that was a filthy shot on his goal last night. Before the season, I was optimistic that he would drop 30/75, but PPG definitely looks like a possibility.
He's always had the skill but I think he just needed to mature to become a truly dominant player which he is now. What's really encouraging is it seems that him and Tavares are really starting to find chemistry, they are finding each other in stride a lot more than they were before and look really in sync together. It's good to see, because JT mentioned that over the course of the summer Willie was frequently in touch with him talking about plays they could run and other ways they could be a better pairing. Along with other guys on the team mentioning him taking on much more of a leadership role and being more vocal in general, it's all looking really positive.
It's nice that based on Keefe's allocation of ice-time, he really feels like a member of the big 4 this year rather than he odd man out he has generally been since Tavares signed. I think with his personality, he's a guy who needs to feel important to get the best out of him. And hopefully the Matthews and Tavares lines both remain in sync throughout the year, we haven't seen that for long stretches since having the both of them and it is imperative to our success imo
He's always had the skill but I think he just needed to mature to become a truly dominant player which he is now. What's really encouraging is it seems that him and Tavares are really starting to find chemistry, they are finding each other in stride a lot more than they were before and look really in sync together. It's good to see, because JT mentioned that over the course of the summer Willie was frequently in touch with him talking about plays they could run and other ways they could be a better pairing. Along with other guys on the team mentioning him taking on much more of a leadership role and being more vocal in general, it's all looking really positive.
It's nice that based on Keefe's allocation of ice-time, he really feels like a member of the big 4 this year rather than he odd man out he has generally been since Tavares signed. I think with his personality, he's a guy who needs to feel important to get the best out of him. And hopefully the Matthews and Tavares lines both remain in sync throughout the year, we haven't seen that for long stretches since having the both of them and it is imperative to our success imo
Griffin76
Registered User
Didn't he mention Forsberg as an idol and someone he wanted to emulate? Now, I'm not putting him in the category yet, but he's definitely trending in the right direction.
Sad we didn't get to see Mackinnon or Makar...
But Willy has been phenomenal this year. He's having his official breakout season statistically. Most of us here knew after about game 30 last year that this guy took his game to a whole new level, he's been rolling since then. Absolutely pumped we got him locked up on that deal.
HamiltonNHL
Resigning Marner == Running it back
- Jan 4, 2012
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The kid has finish.
That is worth paying for.
Plenty of speed as well.
He gets better every year.
That is worth paying for.
Plenty of speed as well.
He gets better every year.
34
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- Mar 26, 2010
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Right on! Much overdue thread for Willy. He was the best player in the playoffs last season and does not get enough credit for how damn great he is. He is also on the best contract on the team.
saffronleaf
Registered User
I know Nylander is not the best player on the team, but he's one of my favorites. Maybe favorite.
His skating is elegant; he's a master at controlled entries; although he doesn't always do it, he has great stickhandling / deking abilities; a hard and accurate pass; a great shot.
He's a pleasure to watch out there.
Beyond that, agree with OP. He's rounding out and realizing his potential. I think he could get even better, especially once he plays center and is the main piece on a line.
His skating is elegant; he's a master at controlled entries; although he doesn't always do it, he has great stickhandling / deking abilities; a hard and accurate pass; a great shot.
He's a pleasure to watch out there.
Beyond that, agree with OP. He's rounding out and realizing his potential. I think he could get even better, especially once he plays center and is the main piece on a line.
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
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HamiltonNHL
Resigning Marner == Running it back
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I always thought William would be a number 1 center on most teams.
crump
~ ~ (ړײ) ~ ~
If you would have shown me footage of current Nylander 3+ years ago I wouldn’t recognize him.
Very rarely do players evolve as much as he has. I don’t mean further developing an already high-end skill set, but going from non existent ability in certain areas to moderately impressive.
Look at Kessel’s defensive progression over 5+ seasons in Toronto and compare it to Nylander. Night and day.
Very rarely do players evolve as much as he has. I don’t mean further developing an already high-end skill set, but going from non existent ability in certain areas to moderately impressive.
Look at Kessel’s defensive progression over 5+ seasons in Toronto and compare it to Nylander. Night and day.
It's like practicing trick shots. lol! William Nylander Bats Puck Out Of The Air Twice To Score Sweet Goal - YouTube
Gary Nylund
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- Oct 10, 2013
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Caroline Says ll
Mmm
Makes sense to finally have him more prominent on the PK. For years he has been one of the best players at zone exits. He has that same knack as Marner at identifying what the offences are attempting in order to breakup and transition out
Gary Nylund
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- Oct 10, 2013
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That doesn't sound so bad TBH. Panarin is a fine player, probably lots of fun to watch and just think what it would be like if the dude was a MTL or BOS fan instead.
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
Flipping Nylander for an D man like Brett Pesce a few years ago would be at this point looked back alongside some of the Leafs worst trades in history.
He's a great reminder that when it comes to development, not everything happens in an instant. Some guys ultimately take a few years to really find their footing, especially when it comes to things like defensive responsibility.
He's a great reminder that when it comes to development, not everything happens in an instant. Some guys ultimately take a few years to really find their footing, especially when it comes to things like defensive responsibility.
