William Nylander

[thewave]

Nylander's playmaking is underrated. Bobby McMann is the best winger he's ever had and the man is sometimes yanked to the 3rd line because it's a corpse.

Tavares while good, is also not a good fit for Nylander as a center.

He makes it work. Maybe that's why he got the slight overpay.

 

[ACC1224]

And you think Nylander is just a goal-scorer?

It’s much more than that. He controls the game, he is an elite playmaker, he has an elite shot, he dekes well, he scores. He’s a possession machine and a line driver. Defensively, he holds his own, and with 20 more pounds than Marner, he uses his frame to protect the puck effectively. He’s essentially the perfect winger. Nylander is simply more complete then Marner.

No I don't believe he is just a goal scorer nor is he more 'complete'. I was simply replying to your post where you mention he has more goals as proof of being a more complete player.
Great player no doubt, but he's never been relied on as a every situation type player which is fine.
Could be the best third wheel in the league.

 

[ToneDog]

Doesn't look like Willie is motivated to shoot for 50 goals. Probably bored with the rest of the season and looking forward to the playoffs like most fans.

 

[arso40]

Doesn't look like Willie is motivated to shoot for 50 goals. Probably bored with the rest of the season and looking forward to the playoffs like most fans.

Drai bacc I’d be disinterested myself playoffs are close enough though so we’ll be able to put all the theory’s to bed so it’s either the boys show up or they don’t

 

[BraveCanadian]

And you think Nylander is just a goal-scorer?

It’s much more than that. He controls the game, he is an elite playmaker, he has an elite shot, he dekes well, he scores. He’s a possession machine and a line driver. Defensively, he holds his own, and with 20 more pounds than Marner, he uses his frame to protect the puck effectively. He’s essentially the perfect winger. Nylander is simply more complete then Marner.

Nylander is a lot of things, but decent defensively and more complete that Marner are not them. He’s terrible defensively even when he feels like coming back into the leafs zone occasionally.

 

[sunstersun]

Nylander is a lot of things, but decent defensively and more complete that Marner are not them. He’s terrible defensively even when he feels like coming back into the leafs zone occasionally.

He's a much more complete offensive player.

Hell he's a much more complete offensive player than Matthews.

Genuinely the speed, strength, shot, dekes, puck control and playmaking is all amazing.

 

[BraveCanadian]

He's a much more complete offensive player.

Hell he's a much more complete offensive player than Matthews.

Genuinely the speed, strength, shot, dekes, puck control and playmaking is all amazing.

Then why isn’t he leading the team in scoring year in and year out even though he’s floating at center cheating for offence seemingly all the time?

There appears to be a missing ingredient or two in this most complete offensive player.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Then why isn’t he leading the team in scoring year in and year out even though he’s floating at center cheating for offence seemingly all the time?

There appears to be a missing ingredient or two in this most complete offensive player.

Over the last three seasons he is second in goals (by only 16) and points (by only 11), second in assists, and tied with Marner in primary points at 5on5.

All while NOT playing with either of the leaders, but on the second line with inferior linemates.

And the "floating at centre cheating for offence" comment shows you're not really watching.

 

[sunstersun]

 

[Maple Leaf]

are you telling me holmberg is the key piece of the puzzle

 

[Confucius]

Doesn't look like Willie is motivated to shoot for 50 goals. Probably bored with the rest of the season and looking forward to the playoffs like most fans.

It’s just his nature, very mellow. Nothing seems to get him in a flap. Him wearing sandals to the arena for goodness sake. Just screams of don’t worry be happy.

 

[ACC1224]

Great pass on that first goal last night. They need that second line to keep beating the lessor matchups for this team to make any type of run.

 

[Mess]

Great pass on that first goal last night. They need that second line to keep beating the lessor matchups for this team to make any type of run.

Tavares 15 goals since the 4 Nations tournament break (last 15 games) is the most of any players in the entire NHL.
&
Willy currently sits 2nd in the NHL with 42 goals only Draisaitl has scored more this year, with JT sitting 10th overall.

Leafs so called 2nd line is out performing Leafs so called 1st line statistically and contributing the most goals scored towards Leafs wins.

Leaf Nation needs Leafs so called 1st line to step up and contribute more as secondary scoring to the McMann - Tavares -- Nylander line who are carrying the team.

 

[ULF_55]

Great pass on that first goal last night. They need that second line to keep beating the lessor matchups for this team to make any type of run.

Thought there were 2 great passes last night.

Nylander for the Tavares tap-in.
marner for the Knies off the post and in.

Lines are shaping up nicely, McMann should have been there all year. Being stubborn isn't always a good trait Berube.

There were some others like the pass to space for the McMann breakaway.

As much as Tavares and Matthews are finishers I think Nylander and marner are drivers.

It might be different this year.

 

[ACC1224]

Tavares 15 goals since the 4 Nations tournament break (last 15 games) is the most of any players in the entire NHL.
&
Willy currently sits 2nd in the NHL with 42 goals only Draisaitl has scored more this year, with JT sitting 10th overall.

View attachment 1005381

Leafs so called 2nd line is out performing Leafs so called 1st line statistically and contributing the most goals scored towards Leafs wins.

Leaf Nation needs Leafs so called 1st line to step up and contribute more as secondary scoring to the McMann - Tavares -- Nylander line who are carrying the team.

Although the bolded isn't true, they're probably the best 2nd line in the league.

 

[ACC1224]

Thought there were 2 great passes last night.

Nylander for the Tavares tap-in.
marner for the Knies off the post and in.

Lines are shaping up nicely, McMann should have been there all year. Being stubborn isn't always a good trait Berube.

There were some others like the pass to space for the McMann breakaway.

As much as Tavares and Matthews are finishers I think Nylander and marner are drivers.

It might be different this year.

There were two, just pointing out Nylander's to stay on topic.
Correct, both are having a great year.

 

[freshwind]

I think the narrative of 1st / 2nd line is wearing a bit thin.
Tavares/Nylander have 78 goals this year, Matthews/Marner have 53.
Knies has been stapled to the MM duo and adds 26 which makes 79 for that trio, only 1 above the TN pair.
If McMann were on that line all season it probably wouldn't be very close.
The MMK trio is +14 on the season, TN is +15, Holmberg is even at 0, McMann is +11

Just stating some stats, not the be all and end all for sure and I expect to be told QoC factors in, and that actually seems debatable according to some gm's.

I also expect to be told I don't understand nuance and context again.

2025/26 - MMK could possibly be over 30M between the 3, TNM hopefully may in the 18-20 range ... for those $$ the stats should not be anywhere comparable but i guess i am missing the nuance

 

[Oscar Peterson]

Great pass on that first goal last night. They need that second line to keep beating the lessor matchups for this team to make any type of run.

Totally agreed, and thank god they discovered McMann as the LW there, he really feels like the missing piece. Gets in on pucks first on the forecheck which really helps Tavares arriving to support, and can actually keep up with Nylander and make rush plays with him

 

[ZEBROA]

Ive been against Tavares and Nylander on the same line a loooong time. McMann realy are the glue thats been missing. And when its missing that line gets to long apart.
Tavares has a fantastic year.

 

[BraveCanadian]

McMann has had a great year and his size and speed really complement both Tavares and Nylander.

 

[Skullz]

Yeah I've never understood why McMann was moved off this line. Fits so well with his speed and strength. Really make Willy even more dangerous.

 

[therealkoho]

So I was thinking about Willie's game over the last few weeks, and how most of us used to see him. How frustrating he could be whether it was taking shifts off or worse taking whole games off.

Now it's like the old question who's the best of the three big draftees, for so long it was mostly Matthews or occasionally Marner who was top dog, with Will only getting the honourable mention citing his shortcomings.

I believe as I've always believed that Marner is the best of 3 truly great players. Will in my opinion is only a step behind Mitch now and a half step ahead of Matthews. This change in the pecking order is more about Will and how he now effects the game. Teams used to have to prepare for Matthews, how to limit his shots from the slot anywhere between the dots, which is tough to do but the NHL I think has caught up.

Wills game has more twists and turns than a snake pit, and how do you prepare for that. He's added the ability to make those Marner type of set-ups, those unexpected passes that suddenly end up in the back of the opponents net. Is he the fastest Leaf, most likely. Does he have the most accurate shot on the team, and is it the hardest shot, yes and most likely at least this year. His so called hockeyQ is elite who can say it's best, who knows, but he always seems to be in the right spot, and the defensive side of his game may only be exceeded by Mitch's JTs or Knies who's come a long way.

Either way it's really great to see Will reach his potential and hopefully there's more there. The other thing is I'm relieved the Leafs didn't listen to me that whole year after his hold-out.

If Auston can find his complete game very soon you'd want to think with the rest of the teams strengths, and just a little bit of luck.......

 

[ruaware41]

So I was thinking about Willie's game over the last few weeks, and how most of us used to see him. How frustrating he could be whether it was taking shifts off or worse taking whole games off.

Now it's like the old question who's the best of the three big draftees, for so long it was mostly Matthews or occasionally Marner who was top dog, with Will only getting the honourable mention citing his shortcomings.

I believe as I've always believed that Marner is the best of 3 truly great players. Will in my opinion is only a step behind Mitch now and a half step ahead of Matthews. This change in the pecking order is more about Will and how he now effects the game. Teams used to have to prepare for Matthews, how to limit his shots from the slot anywhere between the dots, which is tough to do but the NHL I think has caught up.

Wills game has more twists and turns than a snake pit, and how do you prepare for that. He's added the ability to make those Marner type of set-ups, those unexpected passes that suddenly end up in the back of the opponents net. Is he the fastest Leaf, most likely. Does he have the most accurate shot on the team, and is it the hardest shot, yes and most likely at least this year. His so called hockeyQ is elite who can say it's best, who knows, but he always seems to be in the right spot, and the defensive side of his game may only be exceeded by Mitch's JTs or Knies who's come a long way.

Either way it's really great to see Will reach his potential and hopefully there's more there. The other thing is I'm relieved the Leafs didn't listen to me that whole year after his hold-out.

If Auston can find his complete game very soon you'd want to think with the rest of the teams strengths, and just a little bit of luck.......

I feel like your take is reasonable but imo Matthews fell far far short of his potential and it seems to be because of lingering injuries which we don't really 100% know the details about so it's not necessarily his fault. You would think when he was drafted his game was perfectly built for a big prototypical elite 1c except with more goal scoring ability who would dominate in the playoffs and regular season with 110-120 points consistently but it hasn't exactly worked out like that.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Having a little fun with numbers.

If none of Mitch, Matty, and Willy re-sign with Toronto, and they maintain their average production from the last four seasons to the end of their current contracts, Matty will have the record for most goals by a Leaf (with Willy and Mats right behind him), and Willy will have the most assists (ahead of Borje) and the most points (ahead of Mats).

If Matty continues to struggle, Willy could, by the end of his current contract, be the Leafs all-time leader in both goals and assists.

 

[Gabriel426]

Why are people so keen on Line 1 or Line 2.
Comes playoffs, which ever line playing great and getting the job done like scoring goals should play the most mins and be the go to line.

Same with players, whoever plays the best is the MVP of the game and the series, so if Calle scores Leafs leading 6 goals with 11 pts leading the Leafs to a series win, he is the MVP and is the best player in that series over AM, MM, Willie, JT and Reilly.