Tribute William Nylander Discussion Thread: Ya Gotta Be Blessed Edition

[Nithoniniel]

And since I'm spamming anyway, Nylander scoring like a madman isn't even that unsustainable. The best players in the league at getting chances usually end up around 1-1.5 in ixG/60*. Nylander has had a stretch of over a month now where he's flirting with 2. He's arguably getting more and better chances than anybody, and with his hands he should convert at an above average rate too.

* ixG/60 means his own expected goals relative to ice time, based on quantity and quality of the shots he takes.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

And since I'm spamming anyway, Nylander scoring like a madman isn't even that unsustainable. The best players in the league at getting chances usually end up around 1-1.5 in ixG/60*. Nylander has had a stretch of over a month now where he's flirting with 2. He's arguably getting more and better chances than anybody, and with his hands he should convert at an above average rate too.

* ixG/60 means his own expected goals relative to ice time, based on quantity and quality of the shots he takes.

Yeah, I think the unsustainable part was when he was generating chances like this and not finishing for whatever reason. This is a lot closer to how his production should look

 

[Mitchy]

Pretty sure we had ourselves in a better position this time last season.

We've regressed even though our main 4 guys have all played there part. When you figure out why that is, you will understand we are not blessed.

Time to accept that fact, chief.

What's that have to do with Nylander? Leafs are an elite team since Keefe has taken over anyway, so yes, still very much blessed, chief.

 

[Mats13]

When Nylander played poorly, people voiced their criticisms... apparently that is being hateful...

Now that Nylander is playing better, there isn't much to be critical about...

Couldn’t have anything to do with the old coach hating him and never putting him in a position to succeed. But don’t let that get in your way.

Imagine putting Johnsson on PP1 over Nylander

 

[Drytoast]

Just FYI. If you're misconstruing someone saying that we've been great since the coaching change like 30 games back as just talking about the last two games, you really don't have a leg to stand on. Just take the loss.

I'm making fun of someone picking a random date to manipulate numbers into making us seem better than we actually are.

(We do that lots)

Season didn't start when Keefe took over and it remains to be seen if we even make the playoffs.

Remember the leafs looked like the same old just before the all Star break under keefe.

If that hasn't told ya we've regressed this year after having now finally committed half the cap to four players thus forcing us into filling the team out around them with rookies and old guys.

Take the loss? Looks like we all will be by the time this season is over.

Go Willie tho! Amirite?

 

[MyBudJT]

Couldn’t have anything to do with the old coach hating him and never putting him in a position to succeed. But don’t let that get in your way.

Imagine putting Johnsson on PP1 over Nylander

How is playing with Auston Matthews not putting him in a position to succeed??

And Babcock had Nylander on the PP1...

Unless you're referring to last season... Nylander wasn't good last season, but still played more with Matthews than anyone else...

 

[ACC1224]

Couldn’t have anything to do with the old coach hating him and never putting him in a position to succeed. But don’t let that get in your way.

Imagine putting Johnsson on PP1 over Nylander

He's played with Matthews more than anyone.

 

[Notsince67]

When Nylander played poorly, people voiced their criticisms... apparently that is being hateful...

Now that Nylander is playing better, there isn't much to be critical about...

It was worse than that. Having to listen to opinions last year that Nylander was the best forward on the ice for over 10, 20 or more games was a bit much to take. The willfull blindness was extraordinary. I said on more than one occasion that the leafs needed Willy to be good but was accused of hating when I couldnt agree that he wasnt playing like dog shit on many nights. Some of the told you so jabber now is equally frustrating. Sure...target the folks that said he will never be good but please dont pretend that his play right now is merely the same dish served as last year. I saw him float and bail last year. Doesnt do it now and plays like a real pro. I enjoy watching him play these days. I'm not crying about his contract. I would toss a number of players first to free up space before him. He has won some pretty good job security.

 

[IPS]

About those zone entry memes last year during the negotiations/holdout...

Aren't his zone entries actually amazing though? Since he's been with Tavares, he's been almost exclusively in charge of carrying the puck in the neutral zone (he sort of split these duties with Matthews, and Tavares' lack of speed limits him) and god damn he just finds a way to enter clean all the time.

I don't think folks realize just how special of a skill that is. If people instead want dump-and-chase into big-hits and grinding then go watch another team, we don't have the personnel for that.

 

[TheBigFour]

I bet promisedland is enjoying nylander bounce back season

 

[TheProspector]

Guys, he's going to remember that he's a soft, beautiful Swede again, and this will all come crashing down.

 

[Melo Meds]

16 goals and 29 points in 28 games since Keefe took over. 47 goals and 85 points pro rated throughout an entire season.

 

[stopclickbait]

Couldn’t have anything to do with the old coach hating him and never putting him in a position to succeed. But don’t let that get in your way.

Imagine putting Johnsson on PP1 over Nylander

Just that galaxy brain Babcock doing things. Nylander not on PP1 until mango is hurt, no Barrie on PP1. Just awful decisions that held the team back.

 

[1specter]

And since I'm spamming anyway, Nylander scoring like a madman isn't even that unsustainable. The best players in the league at getting chances usually end up around 1-1.5 in ixG/60*. Nylander has had a stretch of over a month now where he's flirting with 2. He's arguably getting more and better chances than anybody, and with his hands he should convert at an above average rate too.

* ixG/60 means his own expected goals relative to ice time, based on quantity and quality of the shots he takes.

His oiSh% is also only around 8.5% at 5v5, which is perfectly sustainable for a good player. Many elite players even manage 9-10% over multiple seasons.

 

[Apotheosis]

He's a PPG sometimes PPG plus player at this stage. In conjunction with 90-100 point players like Matthews and Marner, this offence is set for a decade.

 

[Menzinger]

Just that galaxy brain Babcock doing things. Nylander not on PP1 until mango is hurt, no Barrie on PP1. Just awful decisions that held the team back.

Babcock not utilizing Nylander to hisn
fullest potential was one of the worst things about him.

Not getting 1st unit pp usgae was just strange.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Remember the leafs looked like the same old just before the all Star break under keefe.

If that hasn't told ya we've regressed this year after having now finally committed half the cap to four players thus forcing us into filling the team out around them with rookies and old guys.

Take the loss? Looks like we all will be by the time this season is over.

Go Willie tho! Amirite?

You do realize our biggest deficiency (which is still a work in progress) was missing it's two biggest components, right?

 

[Mitchy]

About those zone entry memes last year during the negotiations/holdout...

Aren't his zone entries actually amazing though? Since he's been with Tavares, he's been almost exclusively in charge of carrying the puck in the neutral zone (he sort of split these duties with Matthews, and Tavares' lack of speed limits him) and god damn he just finds a way to enter clean all the time.

I don't think folks realize just how special of a skill that is. If people instead want dump-and-chase into big-hits and grinding then go watch another team, we don't have the personnel for that.

Yeah, some people making fun of his zone entries and anyone who brought them are looking really silly now.

I don't know why anyone would try to make entering the zone with possession a bad thing, but alas, some Leafs fans are never happy.

 

[Menzinger]

Yeah, some people making fun of his zone entries and anyone who brought them are looking really silly now.

I don't know why anyone would try to make entering the zone with possession a bad thing, but alas, some Leafs fans are never happy.

It went beyind that too. More than a few folks around here tried (nonsensically) to make the case he was nothing but a 50 point player and other. The lack of respect hes gotten was always strange, because hes one of the best home drafted and developed Leafs players of the past 20+ years

That said, its all in the past and the fanbase should just collectively move on.

 

[yubbers]

I was going to add that it's of course his own fault no matter what. I just didn't think it was pertinent to the topic of whether he was physically out of shape.

Cause and effect

 

[Drytoast]

You do realize our biggest deficiency (which is still a work in progress) was missing it's two biggest components, right?

So?

Talk to Pittsburgh or Columbus. Or any number of teams who battled through injuries because they all have decent depth to deal with them.

 

[danny90]

I'm making fun of someone picking a random date to manipulate numbers into making us seem better than we actually are.

(We do that lots)

Season didn't start when Keefe took over and it remains to be seen if we even make the playoffs.

Remember the leafs looked like the same old just before the all Star break under keefe.

If that hasn't told ya we've regressed this year after having now finally committed half the cap to four players thus forcing us into filling the team out around them with rookies and old guys.

Take the loss? Looks like we all will be by the time this season is over.

Go Willie tho! Amirite?

The leafs looked the same as they did under babcock during the games before the all star break? Is this a serious take

 

[Drytoast]

The leafs looked the same as they did under babcock during the games before the all star break? Is this a serious take

Yes it is. There was a reason I guess you are not getting as to why Keefe called them "immature"

 

[danny90]

Yes it is. There was a reason I guess you are not getting as to why Keefe called them "immature"

I think you are overreacting to that immature comment. The keefe leafs have never looked similar to the babcock leafs two different teams with different issues.

 

[Drytoast]

I think you are overreacting to that immature comment. The keefe leafs have never looked similar to the babcock leafs two different teams with different issues.

The immature comment was in regards to what they do off the ice and how they prepare and conduct themselves before a game. I think that's been systemic during most of Babcock's tenure. And a main part of the reason "start on time" is now a cliche.