William Nylander

[arso40]

I agree! FOr a team that is so soft upfront, it's good that someone of their core 4 leads by example for once!

They all lead in their own way for sure but more to your point love his game n Hes probably the only one of the 4 that has real room to improve yet should be scary

 

[KAWAIlllI]

They all lead in their own way for sure but more to your point love his game n Hes probably the only one of the 4 that has real room to improve yet should be scary

True, I'd agree that both Matthews and Tavares seem to use their big frames as well sometimes, especially Matthews. It's great for the Leafs that they have both Matthews and Knies that can create space and do all the physical work on their top line so that Marner gets the space and time that he really needs 5v5.

 

[notDatsyuk]

I’m shocked every time he bumps someone, but everyone on the team has seemed to be stepping it up.

I think that's largely perception. He doesn't 'run into people' and certainly the stats rarely show 'hits', but he uses his size and strength a lot and very effectively. He avoids contact when he can, but doesn't shy away from it in a way that is detrimental to his game.

 

[ruaware41]

Contrary to what a lot of people are saying I actually appreciated Nylander working his ass off all game even though he took a few reckless penalties. It can send a good message to the team about compete level. He looked super dangerous every time he touched the puck in the o zone and was finding some nice lanes for his passes.

He knows he can't take those dumb penalties, had a bad pinch at the blue line, maybe a few other misplays, but otherwise he looked good

 

[notDatsyuk]

Contrary to what a lot of people are saying I actually appreciated Nylander working his ass off all game even though he took a few reckless penalties. It can send a good message to the team about compete level. He looked super dangerous every time he touched the puck in the o zone and was finding some nice lanes for his passes.

He knows he can't take those dumb penalties, had a bad pinch at the blue line, maybe a few other misplays, but otherwise he looked good

I'm not sure 1 counts as 'a few', but otherwise I agree.

Saved Marner's butt when he misplayed the 2-on-1.

 

[sunstersun]

I know he's cooking this series. But we really need to get a 2C other than Tavares for Nylander. He could be so much more with McMann and a center that fits stylistically with Nylander. Tavares has been awesome, but never had good chemistry with Willy.

 

[GlitchMarner]

I know he's cooking this series. But we really need to get a 2C other than Tavares for Nylander. He could be so much more with McMann and a center that fits stylistically with Nylander. Tavares has been awesome, but never had good chemistry with Willy.

I don't really get why they don't have better chemistry with each other.

I get that a lot of Nylander's game is skating and that's not exactly Tavares' forte, but both can protect and hold onto the puck in the offensive zone. They have good cycling shifts now and then but not as often as one might expect.

 

[Menzinger]

I don't really get why they don't have better chemistry with each other.

I get that a lot of Nylander's game is skating and that's not exactly Tavares' forte, but both can protect and hold onto the puck in the offensive zone. They have good cycling shifts now and then but not as often as one might expect.

Ideally next year Willy has a centre who can keep up during a breakout. I think JT and Nylander are okay once they're in the zone together, it's what happens before that which is the bigger issue

 

[notDatsyuk]

I don't really get why they don't have better chemistry with each other.

I get that a lot of Nylander's game is skating and that's not exactly Tavares' forte, but both can protect and hold onto the puck in the offensive zone. They have good cycling shifts now and then but not as often as one might expect.

I think the biggest problem is that JT is very much a shoot-first player. A bit too much so to really mesh with Willy.

Fortunately, even without being the most complimentary pair, they both produce very well together.

 

[kevsh]

Willy kind of does things on his own which makes him difficult to pair up with.

And yes, both he and JT are shooters. So is McMann. So it's no surprise at times they just don't connect. I think Holmberg on the wing was a good start as he is comfortable setting up his line mates rather than shooting.

But I think no matter who you put on the wing or at C, it's likely never going to be great a fit with Nylander.

 

[GoonieFace]

It doesn’t help that Holmberg has been on that line and he is worse than useless.

He has been engaged on both ends of the ice.

 

[nuck]

I don't really get why they don't have better chemistry with each other.

I get that a lot of Nylander's game is skating and that's not exactly Tavares' forte, but both can protect and hold onto the puck in the offensive zone. They have good cycling shifts now and then but not as often as one might expect.

He shot almost 13.5% at ES this year, mostly beside Tavares which is a career best and about the same as Kucherov. And he was beside JT for his insane first half last season. To me there is a fit, and his center is not holding him back as much as his own inconsistency. He was more effective at fewer TOI 22-23 so it may be he is at his sweet spot for sustained performance closer to 18:30 than 20:00 a night. I don't care as much about his regular season total than about the 24 multi point games he had in the regular season. If he flys like that 2 or 3 games a series he will win some games for them

 

[arso40]

I know he's cooking this series. But we really need to get a 2C other than Tavares for Nylander. He could be so much more with McMann and a center that fits stylistically with Nylander. Tavares has been awesome, but never had good chemistry with Willy.

Nah I actually disagree they have chemistry it’s just hard being two guys on a line instead of three love Holmbergs compete and pucc control but he has no shot at all when mcmann was on that line it was our best line and literally was carrying the offence

 

[arso40]

He shot almost 13.5% at ES this year, mostly beside Tavares which is a career best and about the same as Kucherov. And he was beside JT for his insane first half last season. To me there is a fit, and his center is not holding him back as much as his own inconsistency. He was more effective at fewer TOI 22-23 so it may be he is at his sweet spot for sustained performance closer to 18:30 than 20:00 a night. I don't care as much about his regular season total than about the 24 multi point games he had in the regular season. If he flys like that 2 or 3 games a series he will win some games for them

Once again it’s lw that’s the issue not center Mitch couldn’t produce with Holmberg either it’s not the easiest thing in the world to do

 

[Kazparov]

Willy didn't have a great game 3 but I'm not worried. He likely wins a game on his own soon.

 

[arso40]

Willy didn't have a great game 3 but I'm not worried. He likely wins a game on his own soon.

If that’s his bad game I’m not worried plus it Aint the playoffs til we get Florida we’re ottawa

 

[Aashir]

His offence might not have been there last game but he brought his defence

Broke up a 2 on 1 with Marner back on the pp and also broke up a 3 on 2 and then took a pretty big hit to get the puck to JT

The effort and compete is there, off nights happen

 

[ruaware41]

I'm not sure 1 counts as 'a few', but otherwise I agree.

Saved Marner's butt when he misplayed the 2-on-1.

Well I don't remember the game to a tee so just said that for good measure. I recall 2 plays he misplayed but you're just being pedantic man. Happy Leafs won, good day of hockey

 

[HockeyVirus]

To me Willys skating has been visibily off for a few weeks. He is clearly injured and not skating which is how he plays.

 

[thewave]

To me Willys skating has been visibily off for a few weeks. He is clearly injured and not skating which is how he plays.

Very true. He is far slower than usual

 

[GlitchMarner]

To me Willys skating has been visibily off for a few weeks. He is clearly injured and not skating which is how he plays.

Well, in that case, hopefully TOR will end the OTT series tomorrow so he can get a lot of rest before the next series.

 

[ULF_55]

Very true. He is far slower than usual

He's gooning it up though. That slows you down to regular NHL speed.

 

[Maple Leaf]

mxbasnn mcamann nylande t avares coul d do some dmg

 

[notDatsyuk]

Well I don't remember the game to a tee so just said that for good measure. I recall 2 plays he misplayed but you're just being pedantic man. Happy Leafs won, good day of hockey

He made a few misplays, but only one that Willy bailed him out on.

Just pointing out a good play that basically offset the one penalty.

And yes, happy we won.

 

[ruaware41]

He made a few misplays, but only one that Willy bailed him out on.

Just pointing out a good play that basically offset the one penalty.

And yes, happy we won.

oh I was talking about Nylander, not Marner. But it's okay, nbd, we can agree to disagree I guess on if he had 1 or 2 misplays in the game