William Nylander

[ToneDog]

I at least want to see Nylander play 1 year in Toronto with a good winger and not Tavares as centre.

Sure if you can't trade him for some younger hungrier players. The Matthews era is all but over unless the leader of this loser core changes his stripes. You can't win building around a loser. I honestly cannot believe what this guy has done in the playoffs since the series against the Caps. It has been a steady decline.

 

[sunstersun]

Sure if you can't trade him for some younger hungrier players. The Matthews era is all but over unless the leader of this loser core changes his stripes. You can't win building around a loser. I honestly cannot believe what this guy has done in the playoffs since the series against the Caps. It has been a steady decline.

I'd agree it'd be over if we had our picks. If we had our picks I'd be down with a full firesale.

Unfortunately, under that constraint, we basically have to try to rebuild Matthews value next year and trade him the next. The other issue is if we don't trade Matthews after he rebuilds his value we start to run into the contract length screwing our value. But that's also after our mini tank year, where'd we want to contend. I don't really want to lose Matthews for nothing like Marner

I'm kinda with you tho. I don't think Matthews can be an elite player in the postseason, I don't think it's mental tho. I just think he relies on others to get his shot too much without a signature shot spot. He's not physical, fast or a great passer. He's also injured too much, obviously.

 

[notDatsyuk]

No way to know for sure of course we're just speculating here. But I remember when Dubas had to promise not to trade him before he signed. I also remember the recent interview when he said Toronto is "the only place to win". I could be wrong, but to me those words to felt like they had the ring of truth.

I don't give much weight to who his father is, Willie seems to be his own man. If we're talking about a father's influence then there's is someone on our team where that's a big issue, but it's not Nylander.

On top of his saying he wants to stay, he signed an 8-year deal.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I at least want to see Nylander play 1 year in Toronto with a good winger and not Tavares as centre.

I'd like to see them try a line with Matthews, Nylander and Knies. If they can find the chemistry, they could just steamroll the entire league.

On top of his saying he wants to stay, he signed an 8-year deal.

Exactly.

 

[notDatsyuk]

I remember that Dubas had to promise not to trade him, but that was a long, long time ago. This is of course the hockey mecca, this is where the win would mean schools get named after you and you can run for office when you retire. But Nylander the mature man that we've seen emerge the last few years is the ultimate professional. He's not more willing to go to another team because his dad moved around a bunch, I think it's that he's always known that hockey teams will sometimes shake things up.

Of all our guys, he's the one who understands that this is business, but also it's just hockey, and he probably doesn't have to think too hard to imagine his life somewhere else.

I think there's a big difference between understanding you might get traded because it's business, not caring if you get traded, and wanting to stay here and win here.

 

[ashs]

Sucked in the Florida series.


Willie was the passenger.

 

[hamzarocks]

Sucked in the Florida series.


Willie was the passenger.

Matthews and marner weren't on the bus with how shit they were games 1 to 7

Nylander was a passenger for games 4 to 7. And caught the choke, while playing ass defense. The defense didnt matter as much since we got slapped 6-1 twice in 2 of those 3 losses

He has separated himself once and for all though as a leaf vs Matthews and Marner.

Easily the best playoff performer of the 3 over the past 5 years.

Nylander has been a 9-10M player while those two are 7-8M guys

 

[ashs]

And woll sucked in game 7.

 

[Menzinger]

I think there's a big difference between understanding you might get traded because it's business, not caring if you get traded, and wanting to stay here and win here.

I wouldn't expect a waive to happen after his comments today. Went out of his way to describe the city/team as his home.

Imo the reason why he wanted an 8 year deal as much as anything is to avoid what his father did by moving around every few years

 

[PhantomLeaf]

Number three guy. Just doesn't do enough of the small things to be a player you build around. He's the player who can float around in the backround and kill you in a playoff series because you haven't focused on him. He's also the type to go completely ice-cold if you do focus on him.

Not a bad player, though. Just need to surround him with a pair of 1-2 focal points.

 

[Jojalu]

Sucked in the Florida series.


Willie was the passenger.

He won the first two games. He led the series in points.

He needed to be better converting, but was still the most dangerous offensive player.

At this point lamenting at his defensive play is fruitless. He is what he is. Whether it was the right decision to sign him and let Marner walk is also pointless because the Leafs have already made their bed.

Edm won without Drai and McDavid doing anything the last two games.

Rantanen got shutout the last 3 and Dallas won.

Having 4 stars just meant you needed each to win one game. Willy won the first one for sure, was critical in Game 2 and 3, another one of our stars needed to win the other 2.

You could argue Matthews and Marner won game 6, but they all equally sucked Game 7.

 

[Tak7]

A little "InSiDuR" info - just saw Willy at Pearson Terminal 3, boarding British Airways flight 099 to London.

Guessing he's connecting via Heathrow onwards to Stokholm, to participate in the Worlds.

 

[BraveCanadian]

I believe they paid more attention to William in the last few games. Anyway the 2 stars combined for that lone goal. They all didn’t show up.

Matthew$ and Marner sucked in games 4-7 too, but at least they weren't completely checked out and still playing 200 ft.

When Nylander isn't scoring (and sometimes when he is) the guy is a net negative to the team - full stop - because he brings nothing else and you're basically playing shorthanded in your own zone most times he's on the ice.

 

[Menzinger]

View attachment 1039774

Matthew$ and Marner sucked in games 4-7 too, but at least they weren't completely checked out and still playing 200 ft.

When Nylander isn't scoring (and sometimes when he is) the guy is a net negative to the team - full stop - because he brings nothing else and you're basically playing shorthanded in your own zone most times he's on the ice.

Not to be pedantic, but more like 100 ft, just at the other end of the ice. Did Marner even have a shot on net in game 7?

 

[KAWAIlllI]

Number three guy. Just doesn't do enough of the small things to be a player you build around. He's the player who can float around in the backround and kill you in a playoff series because you haven't focused on him. He's also the type to go completely ice-cold if you do focus on him.

Not a bad player, though. Just need to surround him with a pair of 1-2 focal points.

It’s too bad that your captain and his little buddy are # 4-5 players then. Trade Nylander and you got yourself a bucket full with ”meh”

 

[KAWAIlllI]

View attachment 1039774

Matthew$ and Marner sucked in games 4-7 too, but at least they weren't completely checked out and still playing 200 ft.

When Nylander isn't scoring (and sometimes when he is) the guy is a net negative to the team - full stop - because he brings nothing else and you're basically playing shorthanded in your own zone most times he's on the ice.

I know you’re very biased and all, but how can someone say that after all the brutal turnovers by Marner and Matthews that directly led to goals that crushed the team completely?

 

[Confucius]

Sucked in the Florida series.


Willie was the passenger.

In the Florida series
William 3 goals 3 assists
Mathews 1 goal 3 assists
Marner 1 goal 3 assists
JT 2 goals
None were great but saying William was the passenger isn’t accurate. 7 goals in 7 games would be great for 1 guy but all 4 totaled that.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Not to be pedantic, but more like 100 ft, just at the other end of the ice. Did Marner even have a shot on net in game 7?

That is pedantic and by that logic Nylander wasn’t there at all

 

[Nineteen67]

Sucked in the Florida series.


Willie was the passenger.

As were Matthews, Marner and others. The core is supposed to drive the bus and none of them were capable in that type of game. Physically the core does not have the skillset and we’ve all known that for several years.

 

[DarkKnight]

It's so telling it always boils down to the compare and contrast with his fanboys, rather than just admitting this guy ain't it either. There's a reason former players are more measured with him, despite the unreal stats and production, they see a deeply flawed player.

There is nothing more terrifying that Nylander in our zone playing 5 v 5 hockey like we're short handed and doing absolutely jack shit to win a puck, all he cares about it blowing the zone, then suddenly he finds his legs.

I was very complimentary of the flow most of this year, so this isn't knee jerk hate, but f*** me the lengths people go to parse this guy out, it just doesn't jive with the eye test. He was the biggest bum in the world on the goal that brought Florida back into the series, there is "gassed" and there is f***ing quit. Nobody gives up on plays like this guy. And he was complete ass the rest of the series from there. Couldn't handle top line matchups, zero defence and dined off others to get his chances he didn't bury. And you guys treat him like a Leaf great, because he looks better than players you call trash. Think about that it, I'm comparing him against winners, he ain't it.

What a dog when it mattered.

 

[IPS]

Matthew$ and Marner sucked in games 4-7 too, but at least they weren't completely checked out and still playing 200 ft.

Tell us you didn't watch the games without actually saying you didn't watch the games

 

[Tuna99]

Not a Leafs fan but the offensive zone isn’t the Leafs problem - Nylander floats in the D-zone like a rookie and Marner won’t take a hit at either blue line to make a play.

Reilly is also so overrated, the guy sucks in every big game he’s ever playe. He has the heart just not the skill set for what the Leafs need, Nylander and Marner have the skill set just not the heart

 

[DarkKnight]

Tell us you didn't watch the games without actually saying you didn't watch the games

What he said is completely true, no matter how many locusts swarm every post.

Thread is a hilarious circle jerk and I don't give a shit how many laugh emojis I get.

Circle the wagons, the flow was attacked omg! I'll take the players over the playground.

 

[IPS]

What he said is completely true, no matter how many locusts swarm every post.

Thread is a hilarious circle jerk and I don't give a shit how many laugh emojis I get. The bottom.

Matthews and Marner were f***ing AWFUL defensively, picking on Willy's defense is nothing more than exercise in futility.

Get a clue.

 

[DarkKnight]

Matthews and Marner were f***ing AWFUL defensively, picking on Willy's defense is nothing more than exercise in futility.

Get a clue.

That isn't true dude, and it's funny because everyone was saying "nobody cares about their defence, they're paid to produce", now we can't even admit that. I'm out, enjoy the tire fire, it isn't reality.