Player Discussion William Nylander

[notDatsyuk]

Nylander had 7 shots on goal, His fellow winger 5. I would keep that line for a while.

I liked Holmberg with them in the third.

Maybe our second line going forward?

Knies-Matty-Domi
McMann-Holmberg-Willy
Patches-JT-Mitch

 

[notDatsyuk]

Provided the 2-on-1 for the first goal, scored the tying goal, drew the penalty for the winning goal, 7 shots and several setups, and may have saved a goal or two.

Not a bad game at all.

 

[sunstersun]

Provided the 2-on1 for the first goal, scored the tying goal, drew the penalty for the winning goal, 7 shots and several setups, and may have saved a goal or two.

Not a bad game at all.

What I like about it is even if the points aren't there it's the domination of play that will lead to racking em up. Even if he doesn't, it's contributing majorly.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Big Saturday night game and Willy takes over. He loves the spotlight and thrives under it. Best of the core imo

 

[thusk]

It has been shown that quality of linemates (including defence) has a greater impact than quality of opponents.

Of course, between home and away line matching, changing on the fly, icing, and different styles (not every coach line matches the same way), the idea of 'playing against lesser opposition' is not the constant that some would have you believe.

Nylander is the same than Kessel, quality 9f teammate don't really change anything. Nylander is not beter or more dangerous when he's playing exemple with Matthews or doesn't make him better...

The same way kessel was not a better player playing with crosby or Malkin than he was playing with HBk line or with Bozak/JVR.

But when Nylander playing like yesterday with high level of commitment.. He's a hell of a player and will make team happen whatever with who hes playing

 

[ULF_55]

Nylander is the same than Kessel, quality 9f teammate don't really change anything. Nylander is not beter or more dangerous when he's playing exemple with Matthews or doesn't make him better...

The same way kessel was not a better player playing with crosby or Malkin than he was playing with HBk line or with Bozak/JVR.

But when Nylander playing like yesterday with high level of commitment.. He's a hell of a player and will make team happen whatever with who hes playing

McMann skates very well for a big man, he's physical and has some nice hands.

I think McMann would be / is a good linemate for Nylander, maybe better than Knies who is still learning how good he can be and looks to defer to others.

Nylander can outskate some linemates, and that inhibits one of his better attributes making plays at speed.

 

[ZEBROA]

Nylander is the same than Kessel, quality 9f teammate don't really change anything. Nylander is not beter or more dangerous when he's playing exemple with Matthews or doesn't make him better...

The same way kessel was not a better player playing with crosby or Malkin than he was playing with HBk line or with Bozak/JVR.

But when Nylander playing like yesterday with high level of commitment.. He's a hell of a player and will make team happen whatever with who hes playing

Matthews is a sniper and not best style for Nylander. But if Nylander had Marner as a winger för 500+ games he would probaly have more points.

 

[ToneDog]

Matthews is a sniper and not best style for Nylander. But if Nylander had Marner as a winger för 500+ games he would probaly have more points.

Willie needs a speedy, skilled C who can pass him the puck and score goals.

 

[arso40]

Willie needs a speedy, skilled C who can pass him the puck and score goals.

Bingo

 

[notDatsyuk]

Nylander is the same than Kessel, quality 9f teammate don't really change anything. Nylander is not beter or more dangerous when he's playing exemple with Matthews or doesn't make him better...

The same way kessel was not a better player playing with crosby or Malkin than he was playing with HBk line or with Bozak/JVR.

But when Nylander playing like yesterday with high level of commitment.. He's a hell of a player and will make team happen whatever with who hes playing

He doesn't need good linemates to produce, the way someone like Marner does, but he does better with certain types of linemates, and helps them to produce.

That's been more noticeable this year, with the number of setups of linemates that haven't resulted in assists.

 

[Menzinger]

Willie needs a speedy, skilled C who can pass him the puck and score goals.

I don't think the C even needs to be that skilled. Just fast enough to keep up with him + be defensively responsible and capable enough to tap in what's set up by Willy.

Same thing with the other winger, speed, speed speed.

And the Leafs could have a very dangerous line

 

[Anthrax442]

I don't think the C even needs to be that skilled. Just fast enough to keep up with him + be defensively responsible and capable enough to tap in what's set up by Willy.

Same thing with the other winger, speed, speed speed.

And the Leafs could have a very dangerous line

Bobby Mac is good on the other wing. They play well together

 

[leafs in five]

Buying tickets (especially off resellers) isn't like buying tickets to a TFC game. I spent 1k for lower bowl seats a couple of years ago to take my kid to his first game. Drinks and food prices were crazy as well. They lost that game. To pay 1k to watch my team lose and have the players openly comment "who cares?" is ridiculous. Like maybe the people who are literally paying thousands to watch you play care. Maybe the same people who watch all the games care. Lost a lot of faith in our group after hearing that

They said "who cares?" when asked about this loss?

 

[ULF_55]

Bobby Mac is good on the other wing. They play well together

I wonder if part of that is the ability to play any position?

Both McMann and Nylander have been centers, and I think both can play either wing.

 

[BraveCanadian]

I don't think the C even needs to be that skilled. Just fast enough to keep up with him + be defensively responsible and capable enough to tap in what's set up by Willy.

Same thing with the other winger, speed, speed speed.

And the Leafs could have a very dangerous line

Agreed with the heavy emphasis on defensive responsibility and puck retrieving/board play to cover up for Willy's deficiencies there.

Nylander is really one of those guys where it doesn't matter as much who is playing with him beyond a point.. he's just going to do (or not do) what he's going to do (or not do) on any given shift or night.

 

[ULF_55]

Agreed with the heavy emphasis on defensive responsibility and puck retrieving/board play to cover up for Willy's deficiencies there.

Nylander is really one of those guys where it doesn't matter as much who is playing with him beyond a point.. he's just going to do (or not do) what he's going to do (or not do) on any given shift or night.

He's actually pretty good at retrieving pucks along the boards. He isn't physical in the d-zone, which is about the only thing I think he could improve if he wanted.

 

[LeafEgo]

He's actually pretty good at retrieving pucks along the boards. He isn't physical in the d-zone, which is about the only thing I think he could improve if he wanted.

Willy and Matty are probably the best forwards on the team defending 1on1. He can be pretty slick, swooped in yesterday and robbed the habs of a scoring chance, but he plays like a scoring winger so there is less engagement at times.

I see it as neither a strength or a deficiency of his. A responsible center would be good for him, but centers should be responsible anyway.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Willy and Matty are probably the best forwards on the team defending 1on1

You must be talking about a different Willy?

 

[sunstersun]

He's actually pretty good at retrieving pucks along the boards. He isn't physical in the d-zone, which is about the only thing I think he could improve if he wanted.

Sweet set up after board work to Mccabe that was a inch from being a goal. He's got the physical tools for sure.

 

[thusk]

He doesn't need good linemates to produce, the way someone like Marner does, but he does better with certain types of linemates, and helps them to produce.

That's been more noticeable this year, with the number of setups of linemates that haven't resulted in assists.

Marner and Nylander are 2 completly different type of player.

Nylander when he's on, he's flying on the ice and looking like maybe the best player in the world and making producing player around him. When he's off, he's making thing harder for everybody on the ice. That's make him a pretty hard player to play with.

The difference between last game vs MTL where he had been fantastic and previous ten game was not his teammate and who he played with, it was his own level of intensity.

Even in the game vs NJ where he finished at 2 goal and 1 assist, his intensity was pretty low but he's a tremendous skilled player and a fantastic finisher, so he still found a way convert his scoring chance.

 

[sunstersun]

Holmberg looks good with him. I'd try anything other than slow molasses

 

[notDatsyuk]

Marner and Nylander are 2 completly different type of player.

Nylander when he's on, he's flying on the ice and looking like maybe the best player in the world and making producing player around him. When he's off, he's making thing harder for everybody on the ice. That's make him a pretty hard player to play with.

The difference between last game vs MTL where he had been fantastic and previous ten game was not his teammate and who he played with, it was his own level of intensity.

Even in the game vs NJ where he finished at 2 goal and 1 assist, his intensity was pretty low but he's a tremendous skilled player and a fantastic finisher, so he still found a way convert his scoring chance.

That Marner and Nylander are different types of players was my point.

Over the previous 10 games Nylander was still generating chances for himself and whichever linemates he had, but they just weren't going in. For example, over those 10 games he led the team in shots and JT, his usual centre, was third.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Over the 10 games prior to Saturday, it is true that Nylander was still generating some (though fewer) chances, and he and his linemates struggled with conversion. It is also true that he was generating a ton of chances for his opponents, and put up horrific defensive results.

 

[Menzinger]

 

[ACC1224]

I think we've all stopped trying to figure him out.
He is what he is, you take the good with the bad.