Well the Matthews-Marner line should certainly at least be the one part of the structure that should be soundly in place, so when they fail why is Nylander's defensive game suddenly so important?
William Nylander
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BraveCanadian
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M&M ain't doing nearly what they should be doing in the playoffs buddy.
This is the very first year Nylander is finally in their pay grade, all the other years he was paid significantly less. Your misplaced blame continues to look sillier and sillier. Atleast this year if they bomb out your criticisms will finally have some validity eh?
GoonieFace
Registered User
Marner reminds me of the kid playing shortstop, but has to run all over the infield to try and make plays. Being a defensive winger is easy, especially when you hang out with your own defenceman most of the time in the offensive zone
ACC1224
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It's crazy all the excuses that gets put up for Nylander.
As the 2nd highest paid player he should be held to a much higher standard.
BraveCanadian
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Yeah go ahead and completely miss the point again before you peace out
I'm pretty confident I conveyed my stance well. As I said - if we bomb out again this year go ahead and go stir crazy on the Willy critcisims since he's finally paid at M&M 's level.
notDatsyuk
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Anyone with eyeballs can see how many of the Leafs forwards, including Marner, Matthews, and JT, cheat for offence (Nylander is more noticeable because he's faster and more successful), which is a large part of why the defence struggles to clear the zone.
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
I think few would ever claim Nylander is great defensively, he certainly won't ever be nominated for a Selke, but the narrative around his poor defensive play reaches absurd levels of exaggeration. As you rightly point out, most star wingers are very much one-way offensive first players, with the odd exception like Hossa.
The coaches are lucky that Nylander doesn't ever let ego disrupt plans to move him around the lineup - doesn't complain about needing to play with specific linemates, just goes out there and makes things happen with what he's given
ULF_55
Moderator
He is having quite the season.
It's like he's one of the best scorers in the league. (Score goals, earn/awarded assists.)
And all he needs is for someone to get him the puck, and he can frequently do the rest of the heavy lifting for goals.
Not sure he'll end up runner-up for the Rocket, but regardless is in great company.
It's like he's one of the best scorers in the league. (Score goals, earn/awarded assists.)
And all he needs is for someone to get him the puck, and he can frequently do the rest of the heavy lifting for goals.
Not sure he'll end up runner-up for the Rocket, but regardless is in great company.
Nylander is the most offensively skilled player on the team. His skating, puck handling and shot are top 10 in the league. He can be lazy at times but I see a player who has matured both physically and mentally. He’s not paid to be Patrice Bergeron but neither are McDavid or Draisaitl. The argument of whether he’s overpaid is pretty nebulous. The Leafs have a lot of players who are overpaid compared to what other teams pay. In a league with a rapidly increasing salary cap the fact that he is signed for 8 years means he’ll eventually be considered underpaid. The key for me is he can drive his own line and he’s still effective in tighter checking playoff style hockey.
Aashir Mallik
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he is having a very similar season to 2018-19 JT
2nd in league goals, on pace for 87 points and nearly 47 goals too lol
if you thought 1st year tavares was worth his contract you could probably say nylander has been worth his contract compared to JT.
nylander doesn't get a marner like that JT did either, he's also just a bit below where JT was points (16th vs 19th) and ppg wise (~20ish for both)
i expected more from JT that year, and I expect more from nylander this year too. Hopefully he brings it in the playoffs
2nd in league goals, on pace for 87 points and nearly 47 goals too lol
if you thought 1st year tavares was worth his contract you could probably say nylander has been worth his contract compared to JT.
nylander doesn't get a marner like that JT did either, he's also just a bit below where JT was points (16th vs 19th) and ppg wise (~20ish for both)
i expected more from JT that year, and I expect more from nylander this year too. Hopefully he brings it in the playoffs
Ulysses31
Registered User
was just looking as some old posts and dang i NAILED nylanders contract YEARS ago. People thought he would take between 8 and 9.
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Not bad at all cause marner wants something like that too but jt isnt going that low nice thoughwas just looking as some old posts and dang i NAILED nylanders contract YEARS ago. People thought he would take between 8 and 9 LOL.
the most injury free player on the Leafs and the most consistent player who keeps on getting better.
Nylander the last 11 games.
Willy doesnt care who his linemates are. 2nd or 3rd line. He always gets the players that are left over once the top line gets sorted out.
I appreciate the hell out of this guy. He has passed Marner as the 2nd best player on the Leafs. Its not even close.
Nylander the last 11 games.
Willy doesnt care who his linemates are. 2nd or 3rd line. He always gets the players that are left over once the top line gets sorted out.
I appreciate the hell out of this guy. He has passed Marner as the 2nd best player on the Leafs. Its not even close.
ACC1224
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Not yet, if we're being honest. Possibly next year.
Excellent 3rd Wheel though, can score goals no doubt.
Punch Drunk Loov
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Nylander scored 3 goals in 4 playoff games last year all of which were in games 4-7 if I recall correctly.
That's a clutch player on a famously unclutch team
That's a clutch player on a famously unclutch team
Ulysses31
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what's JT expected at? 5 or 6 aav?
As a DRW fan id swing at least that on a short term deal. 7mil on a 2 or 3 year deal.
notDatsyuk
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Easily the team's best player so far this year. Hopefully Matthews regains that title.
I imagine you saying that with a straight face too cause I know you believe that despite all the evidence that shows otherwise but since it’s debatable I’m not gonna going in but know I can I share the same opinion as my friend Hes definitely atleast the second biggest star and important forward on our team he gets results no matter who he plays with matthews is the only other player we can say that for lolThough some would like to say Hes the third wheel I like independent forwards we have 2 our third wheel is the guy you have to set up a certain way to be successful still a hell of a player we got three really skilled forwards just 2 game breakers though
the goal scoring is what makes him worth more than Marner. Leafs dont have a lot of goal scoring outside of Matthews and Nylander.
No one gets paid to pass.
ITM
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Mmm...Maybe a right wheel to Marner's left at worst?
Interestingly, if you take the last five years - on trends:
Playoffs: Last 5 years: Nylander: 34 games played: 17 goals scored (32 pts.)
Playoffs: Last 5 years: Matthews: 35 games played: 13 goals scored (35 pts.)
Playoffs: Last 5 years: Marner: 37 games played: 6 goals scored (33 pts.)
Now I'm going to explain why I chose the last five years in the event anyone's spider-sense is tingling; When Marner's draft came up, my signature read: Make Mine Marner. So I'm qualifying that I was a fan from before he was drafted and noting how his first three years were encouraging, that is, before the money. That is:
Playoffs: First 3 years: Marner: 20 games played: 5 goals (17 points).
I think you (ACC) may be aware that I often make a pre-big money Marner argument as cause for optimism even in the face of certain unwanted contractual realities. But what the comparison does is make a case that as productive in the regular season as Marner has been - and he is remarkably consistent at first blush from '18-'19 to the present - he has trended the wrong way commensurate with his OHL trajectory and his first few years with the club, in the playoffs.
Matthews looks to have a pattern of two-on/one-off with a two-on set coming these playoffs.
Nylander on the other hand - apologist that I am - has improved, to say nothing of the eye test. Admittedly, he was a 3rd wheel (although I argued a long time ago his talent level was another story). However, he is no longer.
And to be sure I'm pulling for Marner's play at the start of the season (esp. November-Marner who weaves and drives straight to the net a la OHL-Marner) to emerge in the playoffs. Won't be too disappointed if he doesn't given expectations based on trend, sadly - July 1 and all that.
BraveCanadian
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