Written By: Cameron Schoffro
Edited by: Jovan Popovic
Many fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs revere Nylander for his unique set of skills, yet some resent him for the very same reasons. He has become the most polarizing members of Toronto’s current roster that is overrun with talent. Some fans would argue Nylander is a redundant asset that ought to be sacrificed for a top tier defenceman, but these doubters fail to acknowledge the abilities he brings to the already immensely talented Maple Leafs forward group.
Nylander’s most outstanding skill is his ability to transport the puck. There are very few players that can enter the offensive zone with the efficacy and volume that Nylander does. He is an absolute menace in open ice, slicing through defensive schemes and retaining possession into the offensive zone. This pairs perfectly with Auston Matthews, one of the most prolific scorers in the NHL. The stats corroborate with the eye test in this regard; thus far in his career, he is in the 97th percentile of the NHL in possession entries per 60 minutes.
What makes Nylander so good at transporting the puck? His unique skating style is the foremost cause. William straightens his back; by doing this he does not reveal his effort level, thus disguising his speed to deceive oncoming defenders. Jack Eichel uses a similar tactic, as it keeps their stick in a position to make quick dekes around opponents. To the average viewer, their style appears lazy, but they are using their skating mechanics to their advantage by sneakily blowing past defencemen.
Due to his upright skating style, critics believe he doesn’t put in enough effort, particularly on the defensive end. Impressive hand-eye coordination and stickhandling ability yields to his defensive stickwork. He was 3rd in takeaways on Toronto, he will often storm down the ice and steal the puck from attacking opponents. Other issues fans tend to question include both his passion for hockey, and his work-ethic. After the notorious loss against the Carolina Hurricanes with emergency backup goalie David Ayres in net, Sheldon Keefe canceled practice the next day; but this didn’t stop Nylander. He was the only player that attended the training facility that day, getting in reps against Toronto’s practice goalie, Ayres. His commitment to improving is echoed by all his teammates, and defenceman Justin Holl optimistically said, “you’ll be leaving the rink and Willie’s still in there doing squats. He’s always working on his game after practice.”
A common criticism of Nylander is his shooting accuracy, as he has been deemed “high and wide Nylander” by many of his detractors. Yet in the 2019-2020 season, he boasted the highest thru % of any roster regular at 66.8%. This stat simply tracks what percentage of shots reach the net. He is an incredibly accurate shooter that does not settle for low-quality shots, and he patiently waits for the highest quality scoring opportunities. One may think this implies he never shoots the puck, but that would also be false. Nylander had the highest CorsiF/60 of any Leafs player, which indicated that he is generating both the most shots, and highest quality shots.
Perhaps the most popular claim against Nylander is the lack of physicality or toughness he plays with. Inattentive fans claim he is a “perimeter player” and is often afraid of the contact that comes in front of the net. Admittedly, he may not be playing with any intent to crash into his opponents, but he certainly does not shy away from the net-front area. He scored the most net-front goals in the NHL in the most recent season. He proved that you do not need to be a physical force to be effective in the most dangerous area of the ice, his elite hands and hockey sense allows him to punish opponents unlike any brooding power forward could. This came in part to his promotion into the net-front position on the first powerplay unit.
In the 2019-20 season, Toronto’s coach Sheldon Keefe debuted Nylander alongside John Tavares. This combination did not produce as well as Nylander and Matthews, however, it allowed him to expand his talents. He scored at a rate unlike previous seasons, eventually finishing with 31 goals in 68 games due to the shortened season. Since Tavares is a pass-first centre, he gave Nylander the confidence to attack the net which transformed him into a better player.
Toronto is undoubtedly the biggest hockey market in the world. If Nylander checks his phone or turns on his TV, he’ll see an array of analysts calling for him to be shipped out of the city. Even harsher statements are commonplace on social media by anonymous fans. However, Nylander’s nonchalant approach to life keeps these criticisms from affect his game, saying, “I don’t really get stressed too much.” His demeanor remains unchanged regardless of results on the ice or messages in the media. He is the perfect player for Toronto, as the criticism is capable of driving players out of town entirely.
William Nylander is the most misunderstood member of the current rendition of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is consistently effective, whether it translates to the stat sheet or not. He is the perfect complementary piece to Toronto’s two franchise centres and has shown overwhelming success playing with either of them. Kyle Dubas would not win any trade involving Nylander, as his intangible skills are unlike any other player in the NHL.
Cameron Schoffro
References:
Kloke, J. (2020, July 16). 'He's his own cat': What makes William Nylander unlike anyone on the Maple Leafs. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://theathletic.com/1929260/2020/07/16/hes-his-own-cat-what-makes-william-nylander-unlike-any-other-maple-leaf/
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