William Nylander

[notdoneyet]

Keep it simple.

Helps win in playoffs yes or no.

WN. Yes
AM. Yes
Knies. Yes
JT. Yes and no
MM. Yes and no

If yes and no what are the caveats?

JT could not keep up with FL at times when it got intense.

MM could not keep up with FL at times when it got intense and gave the puck up a lot as well.

So what can be done and who is available and are they perceived to be better than the devils we know?


That's the logical approach

Please elaborate what exactly has AM contributed. He is a great regular season goal scorer and a piss poor one in the playoffs. He is exactly the same as Marner or maybe worse as he is supposed to score but he doesn’t.

 

[KAWAIlllI]

Over the last 8 years, most of which he was the 4th highest paid player, he was second in goals, second in game winning goals, second is assists (forwards), and third in points.

In the one season where he was actually the second highest paid, he led the team in goals and game winning goals, and was second in points.

If the bar was set lower, it was because he was playing on the second line with weaker linemates. Despite that, he cleared the bar easily.

That guy/girl you're responding to likes to throw in a comment then leave - he never actually answers or have a change of heart.

 

[thewave]

Please elaborate what exactly has AM contributed. He is a great regular season goal scorer and a piss poor one in the playoffs. He is exactly the same as Marner or maybe worse as he is supposed to score but he doesn’t.

If you can't see what Matthews is doing out there against top level competition you need to reexamine the games and watch him.

With Marner he is basically 1C + 1/2 RW and he is proficient at that. Very. He just didn't score positionally he is sound.

 

[notDatsyuk]

maybe but doubt it . Nylanders not a play maker as a rule . He can make passes but quarterbacking everything doesn't seem his forte . He's more the trigger man .
Not sure what they'll do regarding a quarterback . Maybe Reilly if he's not traded or possibly Domi .

Nylander has the advantage of being both a playmaker and a sniper. Marner makes more passes (and more bad passes) largely because he can't skate or shoot as well. If you ever watch the PP setting up, you'll see that it's primarily Willy who is directing it.

 

[notDatsyuk]

That guy/girl you're responding to likes to throw in a comment then leave - he never actually answers or have a change of heart.

I don't find him/her that bad - a lot of the posts are just snide comments that don't actually advance a discussion.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Maby Nylander finaly get more ice time. Said it so many times. It is in his DNA to play as much as possible. He gets better with more ice time. He needs at least mccabe a fast c and a great stretch passing D. Right now he has non of that.

I don't think he NEEDS any of that - he's been producing very well for years without anything but a good scorer in JT.

He'd be better with better linemates, but who wouldn't?

 

[ULF_55]

Career Playoffs

Matthews - Selke Candidate, marner Selke Candidate, Nylander no defence

Who made what?

Earnings:
A. $60.654mm
B. $60,112mm
C. $47,208mm

Goals:
A. 26 - Nylander
B. 26 - Matthews
C. 13 - marner

+/-
A. -2 - Nylander
B. +2 - Matthews
C. +9 - marner

Points:
A. 58 - Nylander
B. 59 - Matthews
C. 63 - marner

PPG (Regular Season):
A. .87 (1.16) - Matthews
B. .87 (.89) - Nylander
C. .90 (1.13) - marner

I know, they don't get paid in the playoffs, so perhaps the effort just isn't there for some of the guys?

 

[arso40]

Please elaborate what exactly has AM contributed. He is a great regular season goal scorer and a piss poor one in the playoffs. He is exactly the same as Marner or maybe worse as he is supposed to score but he doesn’t.

No Hes not at all and if you watched you’d know that Hes still all of 200 and something pounds and kills plays defensively

 

[ZEBROA]

I don't think he NEEDS any of that - he's been producing very well for years without anything but a good scorer in JT.

He'd be better with better linemates, but who wouldn't?

To be closer to his ceiling and help the team more, i should have added. And i meant mcmann not mccabe
He can play with anyone and still produce, but when he get to play with fast and physical players he usually play better. And with a d that can pass.

 

[Machinae]

maybe but doubt it . Nylanders not a play maker as a rule . He can make passes but quarterbacking everything doesn't seem his forte . He's more the trigger man .
Not sure what they'll do regarding a quarterback . Maybe Reilly if he's not traded or possibly Domi .

He is a fine playmaker.. you don't need to be a pass first player with a muffin shot to be a playmaker.

 

[Machinae]

Maby Nylander finaly get more ice time. Said it so many times. It is in his DNA to play as much as possible. He gets better with more ice time. He needs at least mccabe a fast c and a great stretch passing D. Right now he has non of that.

Pure copium but I can see Nylander hitting that Kucherov tier unshackled.

I will take no further replies (let me dream)

 

[PromisedLand]

Reminder:

this is why Willy is a freakin BOSS and not a whiny baby

Wing Man: William Nylander Talks Toronto Maple Leafs & Life in the City

With a contract extension freshly inked and his future in Toronto secured, William Nylander’s focus shifts to making Leafs history, again.

sharpmagazine.com

 

[thewave]

Reminder:

this is why Willy is a freakin BOSS and not a whiny baby

Wing Man: William Nylander Talks Toronto Maple Leafs & Life in the City

With a contract extension freshly inked and his future in Toronto secured, William Nylander’s focus shifts to making Leafs history, again.

sharpmagazine.com

Liked and re-upped for truth. Give this guy the letter he deserves!

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Reminder:

this is why Willy is a freakin BOSS and not a whiny baby

Wing Man: William Nylander Talks Toronto Maple Leafs & Life in the City

With a contract extension freshly inked and his future in Toronto secured, William Nylander’s focus shifts to making Leafs history, again.

sharpmagazine.com

He's 30 years old and thinks it's just going to happen

 

[Caesium]

Liked and re-upped for truth. Give this guy the letter he deserves!

Yeah, give the guy who stands in the neutral zone while the opposition has the puck a letter. That's the kind of commitment to defense this team needs.

 

[Stephen]

If you can't see what Matthews is doing out there against top level competition you need to reexamine the games and watch him.

With Marner he is basically 1C + 1/2 RW and he is proficient at that. Very. He just didn't score positionally he is sound.

Keep this in mind though. In 2024 Matthews was a Selke finalist, but this season despite Berube’s arrival, the team getting credited with playing a way more mature game and Matthews contributing defensively to compensate for lack of scoring, his Selke candidacy has also cratered. Compare to the votes Marner got.

Now, I’m not appealing to authority here by saying Selke voters know better, but my feeling is his defensive work is way, way overstated. You throw any version of Matthews against a real Selke threat like Bergeron or Barkov, you find out really quick he ain’t it.

 

[Jojalu]

Keep this in mind though. In 2024 Matthews was a Selke finalist, but this season despite Berube’s arrival, the team getting credited with playing a way more mature game and Matthews contributing defensively to compensate for lack of scoring, his Selke candidacy has also cratered. Compare to the votes Marner got.

View attachment 1045257

Now, I’m not appealing to authority here by saying Selke voters know better, but my feeling is his defensive work is way, way overstated. You throw any version of Matthews against a real Selke threat like Bergeron or Barkov, you find out really quick he ain’t it.

I thought Drai didn't play D. Or maybe I have just been told that 1000 times here.

He finished higher than Marner and Matthews.

 

[Stephen]

I thought Drai didn't play D. Or maybe I have just been told that 1000 times here.

He finished higher than Marner and Matthews.

You know what. I really hate Drai but man do I respect him for coming out and saying he wanted to win a Selke this year. I don’t watch a lot of Oiler games on purpose but he’s really improved.

 

[pcruz]

It’s been stated several times that Floridas shutdown line faced both the 1st and 2nd line. Nylander led the team in points that series. He did his job.

If the first line holds even against the other teams shutdown line, it’s a loss for the team. As a scoring line, you are meant to score. Not letting the other teams shutdown line score is not the objective.

This is imperatively untrue.
And it's really stupid to say it to me, who posted the actual time on ice faced between the top line of Florida vs the Matthews and Tavares lines.

You could maybe bullshit someone else trying to quote me, but you'll find a real hard time bullshitting me with my own data.


Toronto's top line performed perfectly well against Florida's top line.
Toronto's top line dominated the 2nd and 3rd lines of Florida in the limited time they faced those.

However, when the Panthers moved away from Matthews vs Tavares, although Barkov dominated Tavares, Matthews dominated Lundell.

And while Barkov and Matthews neutralized each other, Lundell dominated Tavares.


The biggest difference between the numbers of Matthews/Marner vs Barkov when compared to Nylander is that the former faced those guys heavily on the penalty kill, while Nylander never killed any penalties.

Thus skewing the numbers favourably for Nylander, who still came out very much on the losing end of the stats.


In fact, Nylander was among the worst offenders when it came to scoring chances and especially high danger scoring chances, among all players. Tavares and Nylander got absolutely hammered by Florida's 3rd line almost the entire series, save game 3 and 4 - where they were hammered by the top line of Florida.

You'll notice that Nylander didn't create a single rebound chance in 7 games - because almost all of his offense came off the rush. And the only way to get that many chances off the rush is to be constantly cheating for offense and not putting in the effort defensively - which is both supported by theory, eye test, and advanced stats.

For all of his positives, of which there are many, Nylander's game is very very limited.

The infuriating part is that the only entity limiting Nylander’s game, is Nylander himself.

He has the speed, skill, hands, size, strength, passing ability, and shot to utterly dominate the game both in the neutral zone and offensive zone. Plus the breakaway ability and threat.

Even if he never quite has a come to Jesus moment in his own zone, he has the ability to pressure plays there and be less of a liability.

 

[HellasLEAF]

Keep this in mind though. In 2024 Matthews was a Selke finalist, but this season despite Berube’s arrival, the team getting credited with playing a way more mature game and Matthews contributing defensively to compensate for lack of scoring, his Selke candidacy has also cratered. Compare to the votes Marner got.

View attachment 1045257

Now, I’m not appealing to authority here by saying Selke voters know better, but my feeling is his defensive work is way, way overstated. You throw any version of Matthews against a real Selke threat like Bergeron or Barkov, you find out really quick he ain’t it.

He got Selke consideration, he wasn't the Selke winner, but he got Selke consideration. To go along with his 3 Rocket Richard, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsey. Did Bergeron or Barkov get any of those?

 

[Martin Skoula]

Keep this in mind though. In 2024 Matthews was a Selke finalist, but this season despite Berube’s arrival, the team getting credited with playing a way more mature game and Matthews contributing defensively to compensate for lack of scoring, his Selke candidacy has also cratered. Compare to the votes Marner got.

View attachment 1045257

Now, I’m not appealing to authority here by saying Selke voters know better, but my feeling is his defensive work is way, way overstated. You throw any version of Matthews against a real Selke threat like Bergeron or Barkov, you find out really quick he ain’t it.

He’s ok defensively I guess but he’s certainly not anywhere close to defensive giants like.. Suzuki and Jarvis. Imperceptibly better than PLD and the corpse of Giroux feels about right.

 

[Stephen]

He got Selke consideration, he wasn't the Selke winner, but he got Selke consideration. To go along with his 3 Rocket Richard, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsey. Did Bergeron or Barkov get any of those?

He got 1 first place vote, 2 third place votes and 2 fifth place votes which is negligible Selke consideration.

Barkov and Bergeron have consistently powered their teams to deep playoff runs on the back of their two way brand.

Let me put it another way. Out of all the centermen he’s ever gone up against in the playoffs one on one, who was a superior offensive force that required Matthews to actually have to go shut a guy down?

 

[Stephen]

He’s ok defensively I guess but he’s certainly not anywhere close to defensive giants like.. Suzuki and Jarvis. Imperceptibly better than PLD and the corpse of Giroux feels about right.

Considering he’s lost the head to head matchup against Suzuki and PLD in the playoffs, I dunno if there’s any flex Matthews can put on anyone out there. When the games matter, Matthews doesn’t.

He’s not giving you Hart level play, he’s not a Selke winner. He’s not a Rocket level scorer.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Considering he’s lost the head to head matchup against Suzuki and PLD in the playoffs, I dunno if there’s any flex Matthews can put on anyone out there. When the games matter, Matthews doesn’t.

He’s not giving you Hart level play, he’s not a Selke winner. He’s not a Rocket level scorer.

My bad you’re right, he has less of a two way impact than PLD and Danault, it’s hard to tell with the lesser Selke votes when 1 bad writer can skew the whole thing. A Foegle/Holloway tier feels a lot more appropriate, there’s work to be done if he wants to scratch that Giroux tier.

 

[ruaware41]

My bad you’re right, he has less of a two way impact than PLD and Danault, it’s hard to tell with the lesser Selke votes when 1 bad writer can skew the whole thing. A Foegle/Holloway tier feels a lot more appropriate, there’s work to be done if he wants to scratch that Giroux tier.

Selke is based on regular season. His point about Matthews losing the head to head match in the post season against them is not a point you can counter very meaningfully.