William Nylander appreciation thread

[lebdafor norris]

Nylander is the worst Leafs forward on the season in terms of +/-, with only Nick Ritchie and Kyle Clifford worse who are currently not on the roster.

He needs to tighten up his game away from the puck defensively and his give-aways.

In comparison to AM and MM, Nylander's numbers is not as bad as what the +/- might indicate. Matthews, Nylander, Marner and JT all have GA/60 between 2.97 and 3.35 the big difference being Mathews and Marner has been on ice for a lot of Goals for which is why their +/- looks much better. Still, this numbers are actually pretty terrible, specially since these 4 put up a GA/60 between 1.87 and 2.12 just a season ago.

 

[ULF_55]

Something definitely off right now.

Hasn't been energetic for several weeks.

He needs to get it back.

 

[therealkoho]

William will showup when it counts...

I think it counted last night, I think?

 

[therealkoho]

Ever since his dominating performance at the world championship where he won mvp, I have been waiting for Nylander to take off in the NHL.

This is his 6th season and he still has never even been 1 ppg.

Yet some try and act like he is just as good or even better than marner, who has 415 points in 400 games.

He has all the skill in the world but he is missing a key ingredient.

Well he's a fine broth of a lad, but some say he's missing some noodles

 

[therealkoho]

Marner averages more minutes a game but is pacing for less points so far this season, it's not a hard concept.

Nylander going PPG+ with an ATOI that would still be lower than Marner's lowest post-Babcock season is a pretty good sign he'd be putting up something in the 90s with Marner's 21-22 minutes stapled to Matthews no?

Cat Stevens used to say that oooo baby baby it's a wild world

 

[Confucius]

I think it counted last night, I think?

It depends whether you're an every game counts or only playoffs count. Just for the record i'm an every game counts. Anybody that thinks playoffs is all that matters, don't worry about William until the playoffs.

 

[Menzinger]

I think it counted last night, I think?

Sure, though nobody else in the top six opted to show up in his place that game either.

 

[Apotheosis]

Something definitely off right now.

Hasn't been energetic for several weeks.

He needs to get it back.

I think he finally realized Tavares is kind of washed and or doesn't fit with the Leaf's core identity. He actively has to slow his pace when carrying the puck because Tavares is so slow.

 

[Stephen]

Something definitely off right now.

Hasn't been energetic for several weeks.

He needs to get it back.

I think a lot of it is a pacing issue with Nylander and Tavares. We've seen Nylander rushing the puck at speed when he's feeling it, but on that line, Kerfoot is the other guy with speed and stranded on the opposite wing. So Nylander really never has anyone to give and go with on a track meet rush from the center ice position for the short pass. That forces him to slow it down which then negates his ability to back off defenders with speed and makes him look like he's on energy saver mode.

It kinda sucks because they seem to be the left over 2 guys from the "Big 4" but there's just no style fit.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

He could be a dominant 80 to 90 point player every year if he actually gave 100% for the whole season. Unfortunately he always has a couple months of this lackluster play every year.

 

[ULF_55]

I think a lot of it is a pacing issue with Nylander and Tavares. We've seen Nylander rushing the puck at speed when he's feeling it, but on that line, Kerfoot is the other guy with speed and stranded on the opposite wing. So Nylander really never has anyone to give and go with on a track meet rush from the center ice position for the short pass. That forces him to slow it down which then negates his ability to back off defenders with speed and makes him look like he's on energy saver mode.

It kinda sucks because they seem to be the left over 2 guys from the "Big 4" but there's just no style fit.

Maybe time to push him to the center position
off Tavares' line.

Speed: Kerfoot, Mikheyev, Engvall, Nylander.

Or ask him if he wants out.

 

[mapleleaf979]

He could be a dominant 80 to 90 point player every year if he actually gave 100% for the whole season. Unfortunately he always has a couple months of this lackluster play every year.

Agreed. I wouldnt be surprised if he wins an Art Ross if he wants too. I dont think anyone is as talented as Nylander on this team. The first 15 games after Keefe was hired, Nylander played his best hockey. He was engaged being the puck carrier with Tavares, entering the zone, buying time and being a playmaker first. He doesnt want to be this all the time, he will be the complete opposite other games. Not interested, does not want the puck, mentally checked outs and makes bonehead plays. Nylander is an enigma from game to game, if he was a prick to his team-mates it would be the last straw so he survives it. Tavares id bet would rather have Bunting on his line than Nylander because he would trust him more and know how to read off his game because Buntings game doesnt change. Nylanders entire approach changes from game to game. This is why he cant gel with Kadri, Bozak, Tavares, Matthews, he isnt engaged and pulled the rope on the line so the others check out with him at times. this is why i would trade Nylander at the deadline or in the offseason and have no regrets.

 

[Stephen]

Agreed. I wouldnt be surprised if he wins an Art Ross if he wants too. I dont think anyone is as talented as Nylander on this team. The first 15 games after Keefe was hired, Nylander played his best hockey. He was engaged being the puck carrier with Tavares, entering the zone, buying time and being a playmaker first. He doesnt want to be this all the time, he will be the complete opposite other games. Not interested, does not want the puck, mentally checked outs and makes bonehead plays. Nylander is an enigma from game to game, if he was a prick to his team-mates it would be the last straw so he survives it. Tavares id bet would rather have Bunting on his line than Nylander because he would trust him more and know how to read off his game because Buntings game doesnt change. Nylanders entire approach changes from game to game. This is why he cant gel with Kadri, Bozak, Tavares, Matthews, he isnt engaged and pulled the rope on the line so the others check out with him at times. this is why i would trade Nylander at the deadline or in the offseason and have no regrets.

Salary-wise, Tavares should really be the one making that Nylander pairing work, but he has so many limitations to his game right now it isn't even funny. The $11 million all-star captain and center shouldn't be the product of a focused and engaged Nylander, he should be the one leading the charge and dragging Nylander up. But we've settled on such lowered expectations even suggesting that seems unrealistic.

 

[budzz]

Nothing wrong with Tavares. Even with the recent "slump", he's getting points, winning face-offs, just under point a game... and more importantly, doing exactly what he was brought in for... a veteran point-a-game guy to take the pressures off Matty and provide a stable bonafide Center to counter any other teams top line respectably. I have no problem with Tavares, unless someone here is signing his cheque and it might bounce? Some of the "buyout" talk on here is ridiculous, they aren't buying out the Captain, and he hasn't come even close to falling off a cliff. If you can't understand the role of a veteran among a young talented squad, 'nuff said. There are a bunch of clubs that would scream for a point-a-game center and pay that salary.

JT's slump clearly coincides with Willy's annual "don't-give-a-crap" slumps... great player capable of soo much but gives up on plays too often and meanders to the bench when things don't go his way. I LUV engaged Nylander... I have chunks missing from my coffee table from un-engaged willy.

 

[therealkoho]

It depends whether you're an every game counts or only playoffs count. Just for the record i'm an every game counts. Anybody that thinks playoffs is all that matters, don't worry about William until the playoffs.

I'm an every game counts type guy, although I do put more import on the playoffs

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Common Willy .. bring back your game to earlier in season levels .. da big guy

 

[therealkoho]

Salary-wise, Tavares should really be the one making that Nylander pairing work, but he has so many limitations to his game right now it isn't even funny. The $11 million all-star captain and center shouldn't be the product of a focused and engaged Nylander, he should be the one leading the charge and dragging Nylander up. But we've settled on such lowered expectations even suggesting that seems unrealistic.

hard to lead a guy who looks like he'd rather be anywhere else half the time, what would JT have to do different that Willie would get excited enough to do the things that he's getting paid for, you know score goals, back check, win pucks along the boards and in corners, go and jam in the blue paint 6'1" 210 he's built to do those things, he has almost as much individual skill as Marner has, yet he sometimes seems less effective than Simmonds, less skilled than Kerfoot and not possessing much more footspeed than JT, but yet is one of the fastest Leafs, who happens to have skills coming out of his ying yang.

Neither MM, MB or AM is the single catalyst on L1, they take turns, sometimes it's all AM, sometime it's all MM and MB always has his motor going and when it's all 3 it's a powerful and intoxicating brew

JT isn't holding Will back, Kerf and/or Mikheyev aren't holding Will back. A pronounced absence of will more often than not holds Will back, it's been with him since his early days in Marlieville, successive coaches have seen fit to bench him from time to time when he seemed unable to be motivated or to motivate himself. Eventually he wakes up and starts "given 'er" as they say. If he was on 85% of the time he is easily a player who flirts with a PPG and maybe +.

His last ten is 4G 3A which is pretty good for most any top 6 guy, whereas JT is 0G 7A still OK, both those players are better than that however and both those players have to produce better, play with a lot more intensity and keep the puck out of their own end and on the other side of the redline.

Nobody at this level should need their hand held, which in a way you were describing!

 

[therealkoho]

Maybe time to push him to the center position
off Tavares' line.

Speed: Kerfoot, Mikheyev, Engvall, Nylander.

Or ask him if he wants out.

I'd already be talking to the Stars, Yotes or Ducks

 

[Jozay]

Hes on full passenger mode right now. He needs to get it going again.

 

[Gary Nylund]

He could be a dominant 80 to 90 point player every year if he actually gave 100% for the whole season. Unfortunately he always has a couple months of this lackluster play every year.

I don't care, just be all you can be in the playoffs when we need it most.

I'm an every game counts type guy, although I do put more import on the playoffs

Yup, me too. Playoff games I'd say are maybe 100 times more important.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

I don't care, just be all you can be in the playoffs when we need it most.



Yup, me too. Playoff games I'd say are maybe 100 times more important.

Both regular season and playoff numbers are factored into a players value. Willys production is very good in both, but him showing a lack of caring isn't the same as a slump. If he could just work through these dips in season he'd be right there with Matty and Mitch. I just want willy to be the best player he can be for the team and himself.

 

[ULF_55]

I'd already be talking to the Stars, Yotes or Ducks

What would you be looking for?

I don't see anything on the Ducks that I'd trade him for.

 

[Menzinger]

I think folks in here are reading too much into facial expressions on tv.

He's definitely earned criticism for his play as of late, but suggesting the guy outright doesn't care seems a bit too far

 

[Aashir]

Guy doesn’t care yet he is always at optional skates, he always is one of the last guys off, and one of the first guys on for practice

He’s going through a funk. Maybe we should learn from our mistakes about chastising star players. We did it to Matthews Marner and Tavares at the start of the season and look at it now

these statements hold as much substance as Marner golfing the day after game 7

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Nylander is good but can't carry a line. Tavares has been (at best) "inconsistent" for weeks now. Nylander has struggled because of it. To be fair to Nylander, (even though he's overpaid in relation to direct comparables at time of signing) he isn't paid "carry a line" type of money.