Player Discussion William Nylander

[ZEBROA]

Lets compare Marner and Nylander when Nylander is playing with one of the best defensive playmakers in the league.

Good game. Great that he has fun with the three game stuff.

 

[GoonieFace]

I thought Willie was the best player tonight.

He was flying and pretty much the best player when he is on the Ice.

He was the best player by far. If only he could flip pucks out of the zone better, or fall down on his knees more

 

[Menzinger]

 

[ACC1224]

He gets one a game at least it seems. It's crazy but he has the right timing for blowing the zone.

 

[sunstersun]

He gets one a game at least it seems. It's crazy but he has the right timing for blowing the zone.

He's also able to convert opportunities that others wouldn't get because of his speed and strength.

 

[All Mod Cons]

He gets one a game at least it seems. It's crazy but he has the right timing for blowing the zone.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Lets compare Marner and Nylander when Nylander is playing with one of the best defensive playmakers in the league.

Good game. Great that he has fun with the three game stuff.

That's Willy - don't get too low, don't get too high.

Some of the other players, and a whole bunch of posters, could do with more of that attitude.

 

[ACC1224]

TAKEAWAYS: On impact of Matthew Knies on Maple Leafs, William Nylander and another win

The reason for William Nylander’s ability to get breakaways is fairly simple, Matthews figured.

“He’s really good at cheating for offence, and I mean that in the best way possible,” Matthews said. “He reads the plays and is very fast, his IQ, the way he reads the play and is able to get behind you. Nobody does it better than him.”

 

[Craig Button]

Nylander is the most gifted Leaf, most frustrating Leaf as well. When he goes 100% percent and is back checking, hounding pucks, Id argue he is as good/dangerous as Matthews. He is better than Marner when both are competing at 100 percent. The big edge is Nylander's puck protection, cut backs, strong on the puck and his shot are clearly areas he is better than Marner at.

Oh god No!!!

Not even close. Sure he will score more goals. But he can’t create plays like Marner, defend like Marner or even PK like Marner.

Marner has been doing this every game for years.

 

[Menzinger]

He's also able to convert opportunities that others wouldn't get because of his speed and strength.

And ability to read the play faster

 

[DitchMarner]

Oh god No!!!

Not even close. Sure he will score more goals. But he can’t create plays like Marner, defend like Marner or even PK like Marner.

Marner has been doing this every game for years.

I think Marner is generally better because he's better defensively, but he has his own frustrations. He can be pushed to the perimeter too easily at times and he's had too many series where he was a complete non-factor in terms of goal scoring mainly because of this (which is important when you're a high-priced forward).

But it's good that they have different strengths and weaknesses. It's better to have diversity among your best forwards than to have stars who are completely redundant.

 

[ruaware41]

He gets one a game at least it seems. It's crazy but he has the right timing for blowing the zone.

it's not a bad thing lol (not saying ur saying it is). It takes a good read of the game/play to make the decision. It seems more often than not he reads it right

 

[arso40]

I like that he’s added shooting on the the breakaway 50s in reach

 

[Gary Nylund]

I think Marner is generally better because he's better defensively, but he has his own frustrations. He can be pushed to the perimeter too easily at times and he's had too many series where he was a complete non-factor in terms of goal scoring mainly because of this (which is important when you're a high-priced forward).

But it's good that they have different strengths and weaknesses. It's better to have diversity among your best forwards than to have stars who are completely redundant.

To put it another way, Marner is better than Nylander until teams adjust to playoff style hockey. After that, Nylander is better.

 

[GoonieFace]

It was nice to hear Jonas on Overdrive say he is the first guy on the ice and the last guy to leave, constantly working.

 

[ToneDog]

To put it another way, Marner is better than Nylander until teams adjust to playoff style hockey. After that, Nylander is better.

Kyper on Nylander being Mr. Breakaway. That is going to dry up in the playoffs. We know what else dries up in Spring.

 

[ToneDog]

It was nice to hear Jonas on Overdrive say he is the first guy on the ice and the last guy to leave, constantly working.

Part of me thinks the 3 amigos realized that after the Marner and Nylander comments, if the losing streak continued, they would get more heat, so they turned it up and here we are. Now if they can do the same against Florida in round #2, everybody wins.

 

[GoonieFace]

Part of me thinks the 3 amigos realized that after the Marner and Nylander comments, if the losing streak continued, they would get more heat, so they turned it up and here we are. Now if they can do the same against Florida in round #2, everybody wins.

I think he was saying this was always the case, not just a recent thing.

At this point, I will take an appearance in the ECF and be happy. Just want to see them compete hard and not embarrass themselves

 

[ToneDog]

I think he was saying this was always the case, not just a recent thing.

At this point, I will take an appearance in the ECF and be happy. Just want to see them compete hard and not embarrass themselves

IMO, with the East not being as strong as it was in the past, anything less than making it to the ECF is a failure and heads should roll.

 

[Mess]

Top Goal Scorers in the NHL as of Jan 22, 2025

Only Leon Draisaitl has scored more goals then Willy Nylander as of today.

Lets hope Willy can carry this forward come playoff time.

 

[Jojalu]

Kyper on Nylander being Mr. Breakaway. That is going to dry up in the playoffs. We know what else dries up in Spring.

Too bad Kyper is wrong. If you go look at the stats for the past 5 years, scoring and scoring chances go slightly down in the playoffs.

From 3.2 gpg to 2.98 gpg. Scoring chances including breakaways remain almost the same.

Goaltenders are better and the Leafs biggest issue is their PP is always near the bottom.

Edm and NYR are almost 45% of all their goals being scored come playoff time are on the PP.

Tor is always hovering around 18%.

Tor has played a lot of one goal games over the past 5 years. If their horrid PP was even avg, they would have got out of the first round more than the once they have

 

[ToneDog]

Too bad Kyper is wrong. If you go look at the stats for the past 5 years, scoring and scoring chances go slightly down in the playoffs.

From 3.2 gpg to 2.98 gpg. Scoring chances including breakaways remain almost the same.

Goaltenders are better and the Leafs biggest issue is their PP is always near the bottom.

Edm and NYR are almost 45% of all their goals being scored come playoff time are on the PP.

Tor is always hovering around 18%.

Tor has played a lot of one goal games over the past 5 years. If their horrid PP was even avg, they would have got out of the first round more than the once they have

Kyper was talking breakaways and it makes sense. He still will get his chances but if I am a coach playing the Leafs in the playoffs, my guys will be told to pay special attention to Willie. Hell, I would tell my guys to run the 3 amigos every chance they get.

P.S. what else dries up in Spring is not Nylander.

 

[Jojalu]

Kyper was talking breakaways and it makes sense. He still will get his chances but if I am a coach playing the Leafs in the playoffs, my guys will be told to pay special attention to Willie. Hell, I would tell my guys to run the 3 amigos every chance they get.

P.S. what else dries up in Spring is not Nylander.

I was listening to the segment. Bourne pointed out that Willy has indeed scored breakaway goals in big moments in the playoffs.

It seemed he was more concerned if Willy blew the zone early and it ended up being a scoring chance for the other team.

At least from what I could understand

 

[thewave]

Too bad Kyper is wrong. If you go look at the stats for the past 5 years, scoring and scoring chances go slightly down in the playoffs.

From 3.2 gpg to 2.98 gpg. Scoring chances including breakaways remain almost the same.

Goaltenders are better and the Leafs biggest issue is their PP is always near the bottom.

Edm and NYR are almost 45% of all their goals being scored come playoff time are on the PP.

Tor is always hovering around 18%.

Tor has played a lot of one goal games over the past 5 years. If their horrid PP was even avg, they would have got out of the first round more than the once they have

POs, special teams. How could so much AAV produce so bad. It makes no sense. How would you fix it?

 

[ToneDog]

I was listening to the segment. Bourne pointed out that Willy has indeed scored breakaway goals in big moments in the playoffs.

It seemed he was more concerned if Willy blew the zone early and it ended up being a scoring chance for the other team.

At least from what I could understand

Yes, I heard that too but I was not sure if it was JB or Sammy. That was a year ago. Willie is now gaining the rep of being Mr. Breakaway so I expect teams will pay more attention to him for fear he will sneak in behind them and make them pay.