William Nylander appreciation thread

[Confucius]

3rd on the team? Matthews clear 1, probably Marner 2, go ahead and argue, probably ahead of Jt and Reilly? Could argue Reilly

Ok, William @7 > Marner @11 AINEC

 

[Squiffy]

Ok, William @7 > Marner @11 AINEC

ok, Campbell clearly, and that’s an oversight on me, matthews is 1, gonna Assume Reilly, that’s three. Manner isn’t one, three more slotted before marner? Jt… maybe Sandin..?

 

[Aashir]

Remember when his name was William Greedlander? The cancer of this organization. The guy we should’ve dealt for a top 4 dman…..

thankfully willy can shake off the haters and continue to prove them wrong

 

[Martin Skoula]

Ok, William @7 > Marner @11 AINEC

I don't think you even need to bring money into it, pick a game at random and Nylander was probably better than Marner that night. When Marner is on he'll put up 4 points without even wowing you and pad the point gap but he's not consistently better game in game out.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

I don't think you even need to bring money into it, pick a game at random and Nylander was probably better than Marner that night. When Marner is on he'll put up 4 points without even wowing you and pad the point gap but he's not consistently better game in game out.

Honestly I think contracts is what swings it widely in Nylander's favour. Take contracts out and it's a toss up. One is an all situations 95+ point elite play making winger. The other is a clutch, game breaking (what looks to be) PPG winger who can flirt with 40 girls err I mean goals. Both extremely valuable and are quite frankly top line wingers on just about every team in the league.

One makes 7M the other 11.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

We need some playoff success because lack of it is blinding folks to how truly blessed we are right now.

Imagine having a guy with 36 in 34 and he doesn't even get listed in your top 5 choices for the All Star game?

 

[Gary Nylund]

Honestly I think contracts is what swings it widely in Nylander's favour. Take contracts out and it's a toss up. One is an all situations 95+ point elite play making winger. The other is a clutch, game breaking (what looks to be) PPG winger who can flirt with 40 girls err I mean goals. Both extremely valuable and are quite frankly top line wingers on just about every team in the league.

One makes 7M the other 11.

I hate to be cynical but Marner hasn't impressed this season and there's no guarantee he ever hits 95 points again.

Take out contracts, OK if they both were under contract for say 9 million for another 4 years and I had to choose one of the two, I think I choose Nylander as of today. Not saying it's a slam dunk no brainer and if I really had to make this choice I'd think about it for a while as it's obviously a big decision but my first instinct is I choose Nylander. You could say recency bias I guess but when you're judging players, recent performance does carry more weight than past performance and since the last playoffs started, Nylander has out played Marner by a good margin and it doesn't feel like he's just on some sort of unsustainable run, it feels like he just keeps getting better and better.

Factor in contracts and I agree - widely in Nylanders favor, nothing to discuss here at all.

 

[Gary Nylund]

We need some playoff success because lack of it is blinding folks to how truly blessed we are right now.

Imagine having a guy with 36 in 34 and he doesn't even get listed in your top 5 choices for the All Star game?

Blessed ... that's one way of looking at it I guess and I do get what you're saying. The flip side of the coin is that it's hard to feel blessed when you have a team that year after year looks like a contender yet keeps falling flat on it's face in the playoffs. When you haven't even won one playoff series in decades, I supposed some regular season success might be enough to make some people feel blessed but for the record, I'm not one of them.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Blessed ... that's one way of looking at it I guess and I do get what you're saying. The flip side of the coin is that it's hard to feel blessed when you have a team that year after year looks like a contender yet keeps falling flat on it's face in the playoffs. When you haven't even won one playoff series in decades, I supposed some regular season success might be enough to make some people feel blessed but for the record, I'm not one of them.

Right well you basically just said "I need playoff wins to be able to see what we have here".

Obviously team outcomes are the objective but it's also nice being able to appreciate some of the individual things as well. I mean, there's teams that would kill to one of what we have multiple of. I suppose for those who haven't been around for 5 decades of Leaf hockey, some haven't really seen the depths.

Yup, they need to start getting it done but along the journey, I'm going to enjoy what we have for this brief period of time.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Right well you basically just said "I need playoff wins to be able to see what we have here".

Obviously team outcomes are the objective but it's also nice being able to appreciate some of the individual things as well. I mean, there's teams that would kill to one of what we have multiple of. I suppose for those who haven't been around for 5 decades of Leaf hockey, some haven't really seen the depths.

Yup, they need to start getting it done but along the journey, I'm going to enjoy what we have for this brief period of time.

'

That's not what I said at all. I don't want to repeat myself so maybe just read my post again?

I have in fact been around for 5+ decades so I remember how bad things have been at times but why should we compare ourselves to those shitty teams? I also remember some playoff successes during those 50 years and that winning in the playoffs feels a lot better than winning in the regular season.

I'm enjoying watching them play and as I've said earlier, this looks like the best Leaf team I've ever seen. But like you said, they need to start getting it done and until they do, regular season success doesn't mean much. So yeah I'm enjoying watching them win for sure but I will enjoy it 100 times more if and when they start doing it in the playoffs.

As far as individual successes go, put it this way - I enjoy watching the talent we have, it's amazing. Like last night, kind of a shitty game but watching Nylander score that beauty in the shootout, that was very enjoyable! As far as individual awards go though, for me they're an enjoyable cherry on top if the team has success but if the team keeps losing in the playoffs then I really don't care. It's a team game and for me, I care about the team 100 times more then I care about the individuals on it. JMHO.

 

[supermann_98]

JT needs to better. He has to bury his chances. Nylander serving em up on a platter.

OT but imagine Kadri at $4.5m burying those chances and having an extra $6.5m to play with elsewhere on the roster?

But I disgress, Nylander is making even his most vocal critics come around. IE, my dad always called him greedy because of the contract hold out, now he's one of my dad's favorite Leafs.

In a redraft he may go as high as 2nd overall after Drai

 

[Gary Nylund]

OT but imagine Kadri at $4.5m burying those chances and having an extra $6.5m to play with elsewhere on the roster?

But I disgress, Nylander is making even his most vocal critics come around. IE, my dad always called him greedy because of the contract hold out, now he's one of my dad's favorite Leafs.

In a redraft he may go as high as 2nd overall after Drai

As of today, Nazem Kadri leads the league in assists. Yes that's right, he even has more assists than McDavid. And he's played 3 less games than McDavid.

Mind blown!

 

[34]

Willy is an absolute stud, does not get enough credit. He is the second best player on the Leafs behind Matty of coarse.

At this point he is the best Swede forward in the NHL.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

'

That's not what I said at all. I don't want to repeat myself so maybe just read my post again?

I have in fact been around for 5+ decades so I remember how bad things have been at times but why should we compare ourselves to those shitty teams? I also remember some playoff successes during those 50 years and that winning in the playoffs feels a lot better than winning in the regular season.

I'm enjoying watching them play and as I've said earlier, this looks like the best Leaf team I've ever seen. But like you said, they need to start getting it done and until they do, regular season success doesn't mean much. So yeah I'm enjoying watching them win for sure but I will enjoy it 100 times more if and when they start doing it in the playoffs.

As far as individual successes go, put it this way - I enjoy watching the talent we have, it's amazing. Like last night, kind of a shitty game but watching Nylander score that beauty in the shootout, that was very enjoyable! As far as individual awards go though, for me they're an enjoyable cherry on top if the team has success but if the team keeps losing in the playoffs then I really don't care. It's a team game and for me, I care about the team 100 times more then I care about the individuals on it. JMHO.

The bolded is it in a nutshell or if not one of the best teams, certainly one of the most talented teams. The point as related to this thread was "imagine having a guy doing what Nylander does and he's not even listed in your top 5 All Star choices". That's literally ridiculous. Obviously, they need playoff success but damn, there's a lot to enjoy.

The decades you speak of has literally nothing to do with the current. For me, I wasn't expecting them to legitimately contend yearly until year 4 (first 3 were gravy). The Columbus year was for me the first year I had expectations but I can't even really care about that one given no one played any hockey for longer than a regular offseason.....that was like having the playoffs during training camp. Last year was inexcusable, for sure.

 

[lebdafor norris]

OT but imagine Kadri at $4.5m burying those chances and having an extra $6.5m to play with elsewhere on the roster?

But I disgress, Nylander is making even his most vocal critics come around. IE, my dad always called him greedy because of the contract hold out, now he's one of my dad's favorite Leafs.

In a redraft he may go as high as 2nd overall after Drai

I'm still wondering if this is just a long hot streak for Kadri or if his following a similar career trajectory to Brad Marchand.

 

[Confucius]

As of today, Nazem Kadri leads the league in assists. Yes that's right, he even has more assists than McDavid. And he's played 3 less games than McDavid.

Mind blown!

I remember a few years ago Kadri stated he thought he was just as good as JT. Everyone was like WTF? Maybe it's just a fluke year but maybe all he needed was an opportunity.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

I remember a few years ago Kadri stated he thought he was just as good as JT. Everyone was like WTF? Maybe it's just a fluke year but maybe all he needed was an opportunity.

Difficulty will be "what's the UFA price" and "can he sustain it"? JT has sustained it his entire career.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

I remember a few years ago Kadri stated he thought he was just as good as JT. Everyone was like WTF? Maybe it's just a fluke year but maybe all he needed was an opportunity.

Aren't a ton of his pts via the pp and filling in for Mackinnon on the top line for his injury /covid stretch? He's been great in his own right but he's been working in optimal conditions. But yah obviously he'd be great to have...until the brain cramp. Nylander has been the Leafs best forward for many games this year.

 

[Gary Nylund]

The bolded is it in a nutshell or if not one of the best teams, certainly one of the most talented teams. The point as related to this thread was "imagine having a guy doing what Nylander does and he's not even listed in your top 5 All Star choices". That's literally ridiculous. Obviously, they need playoff success but damn, there's a lot to enjoy.

The decades you speak of has literally nothing to do with the current. For me, I wasn't expecting them to legitimately contend yearly until year 4 (first 3 were gravy). The Columbus year was for me the first year I had expectations but I can't even really care about that one given no one played any hockey for longer than a regular offseason.....that was like having the playoffs during training camp. Last year was inexcusable, for sure.

I agree - a lot to enjoy, but need playoff success. And when the playoff failures keep piling up, the regular season becomes harder to enjoy. I'm enjoying this season more than I thought I would actually but I completely understand those people who are 100% jaded and say get back to me when we win a playoff series. I also thought we were worthy opponents for Boston, both those series went 7 games, both were 100% winnable and both times, we just collapsed at the end. I really hope this year is different, if we f*** up again, not sure how much I'll be able to enjoy next season no matter how well we play.

Talent is always fun to watch but I never lose sight of the end goal which is team success and winning the cup and when you can't even win one damn series with all this talent (and especially when you keep collapsing so close to the finish line the way we've been doing), it's frustrating as hell.

I'm still wondering if this is just a long hot streak for Kadri or if his following a similar career trajectory to Brad Marchand.

I remember a few years ago Kadri stated he thought he was just as good as JT. Everyone was like WTF? Maybe it's just a fluke year but maybe all he needed was an opportunity.

It's interesting isn't it! Kadri was my favourite player until he got traded but TBH, I just assumed this was a fluke year for him. I hope I'm wrong though, I always liked him and hope he does well. It will be extremely interesting to see how he finishes the year (including whether or not he gets suspended again in the playoffs), who signs him and for how much and how long and how he does going forward. And Marchand was a fair bit younger when he broke out, I find it hard to believe that Kadri can keep this up for much longer. But still, he's a great story this season. Ovechkin is so far still probably the story of the year but Kadri's maybe even the number 2 story of the year after him?

 

[Gary Nylund]

I remember a few years ago Kadri stated he thought he was just as good as JT. Everyone was like WTF? Maybe it's just a fluke year but maybe all he needed was an opportunity.

This was the quote:
"I think talent-wise there’s not too much difference."

I remember a lot of people losing their s..t when he said that haha. Nothing wrong with that though, he's basically criticizing himself saying he needs to work harder at being a better player because he's not living up to his potential. Gotta love a guy who doesn't run every sentence past the PR guys and lawyers before he speaks, Kadri is such a likeable guy. Too bad he couldn't control his emotions better, oh well.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

I agree - a lot to enjoy, but need playoff success. And when the playoff failures keep piling up, the regular season becomes harder to enjoy. I'm enjoying this season more than I thought I would actually but I completely understand those people who are 100% jaded and say get back to me when we win a playoff series. I also thought we were worthy opponents for Boston, both those series went 7 games, both were 100% winnable and both times, we just collapsed at the end. I really hope this year is different, if we f*** up again, not sure how much I'll be able to enjoy next season no matter how well we play.

Talent is always fun to watch but I never lose sight of the end goal which is team success and winning the cup and when you can't even win one damn series with all this talent (and especially when you keep collapsing so close to the finish line the way we've been doing), it's frustrating as hell.

Oh I agree, it can be frustrating though I also think folks lose sight of we kind of overachieved those first 3 years. We are only recently looking at a more completely built team (absent some glaring flaws) and our core is just now maturing. Huge blown opportunity last year and now our road is even tougher. What is nice to see is everything is trending in the right direction (our defensive side has grown in leaps and bounds to being among the best).

Back to the subject, that whole AS thing just struck me funny as it pertains to Nylander and meanwhile some schmuck who would be on our 4th line will get in due to the format. Then years down the road when people debate player calibre, some tool will say "Nylander? Never even made an All Star team.". LOL

 

[VanW27]

Difficulty will be "what's the UFA price" and "can he sustain it"? JT has sustained it his entire career.

He can't, great for him having a big year but this is a fluke career year combined with contract year.

Career pts pace prior to this season 52pts/82GP
Last 3 season points pace 51pts/82GP

this season 131pts/82GP

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Willy was in beast mode last night on puck and 2 beauties with breakaway speed LUV it LUV it .. should have been 2nd star after Pietro

 

[Gary Nylund]

Oh I agree, it can be frustrating though I also think folks lose sight of we kind of overachieved those first 3 years. We are only recently looking at a more completely built team (absent some glaring flaws) and our core is just now maturing. Huge blown opportunity last year and now our road is even tougher. What is nice to see is everything is trending in the right direction (our defensive side has grown in leaps and bounds to being among the best).

Back to the subject, that whole AS thing just struck me funny as it pertains to Nylander and meanwhile some schmuck who would be on our 4th line will get in due to the format. Then years down the road when people debate player calibre, some tool will say "Nylander? Never even made an All Star team.". LOL

Our defensive play is a lot better for sure. As far as Nylander goes, yeah that's pretty dumb but we know how good he is and that's the main thing. He's such a treat to watch these days. And again, I love the way he didn't even celebrate after the shootout goal, just skated away, head down, nothing to see here, just doing my job. I said it in a post last week - reminds me of how Grapes used to say how much he loved that about Bobby Orr, he just goes about his business like a gud pro and leaves the hot-dogging to the others.

 

[Gary Nylund]

He can't, great for him having a big year but this is a fluke career year combined with contract year.

Career pts pace prior to this season 52pts/82GP
Last 3 season points pace 51pts/82GP

this season 131pts/82GP

LOL that's just ... LOL. I always assumed this season was an anomaly but I had no idea just how sick these numbers are. I hope he keeps it up for a long time, just makes it that much more interesting to see how much some signs him for this off-season. Might make for a good thread on the main boards in the off-season - predict Kadri's next contract, years and dollar amount. Does he get 8 million for 7 years? More than that? I have no idea.