William Nylander’s skeptics have been forced into silence by the dynamic Swede’s impressive performances over the past three seasons. His scoring touch, combined with his high-end two-way play, caught the attention of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, leading to a whopping $92-million dollar commitment in January.
Under the guidance of new head coach Craig Berube, Nylander faces even higher expectations. Toronto is investing in Nylander to be a star player, capable of leading his own line and elevating his teammates. This requires Nylander to reach a level reserved for only the best in the game.
With his massive contract secured, focus has shifted to Nylander’s role within the lineup. Berube is considering deploying Nylander as the team’s second-line center, a position he has dabbled with in the past. The hope is that Nylander’s productivity at center will allow the Maple Leafs to structure their lines effectively, with John Tavares potentially moving to the third line and David Kampf on the fourth.
The debate surrounding Nylander’s comfort at center and the transition to a full-time role is ongoing. However, the bigger question for the Maple Leafs is whether Nylander can excel independently, without the support of Auston Matthews by his side.
It is not a knock on Nylander to suggest that playing with a goal scorer like Matthews would boost any player’s numbers. The real challenge lies in Nylander’s ability to generate success on the ice without relying on Matthews’ scoring prowess. There has been a noticeable difference in Nylander’s performance when playing without Matthews, highlighting the importance of his role within the team.
Analyzing Nylander and Matthews’ play over the last three seasons reveals a significant drop in performance during the 2,500 minutes Nylander spent away from his star teammate. This emphasizes the need for Nylander to prove his ability to drive play independently and contribute to the team’s success.
As Nylander prepares for the upcoming season, all eyes are on him to demonstrate his capabilities as a key player for the Maple Leafs. The challenge of stepping out of Matthews’ shadow and thriving on his own presents a new opportunity for Nylander to showcase his true potential and solidify his place among the league’s elite.