William Nylander has experimented at centre under previous Toronto Maple Leafs’ regimes, but only in a fleeting capacity. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed Wednesday that Nylander would start at centre, and expanded on his decision after the opening day of camp.
Nylander was flanked by Max Domi and Calle Jarnkrok, which boasts one of the league’s most underrated playmakers in Domi and an all-around player in Jarnkrok, who is the model of consistency.
“You got to give him some opportunity and time,” Berube said of playing Nylander at centre. “It’s not just going to, you know…you have to see him in exhibition (games) down the road a little bit, play a few games, see what he looks like, see how he’s feeling, see if he’s comfortable. Those are conversations I’ll have with him but also, we’ll be watching him.”
Nylander has been used at centre before, but only sparingly. He was named MVP of the IIHF World Championships in 2017, starring at centre for Sweden but during his tenure with the Maple Leafs, it’s been considered more of a curiosity than a real idea.
“I’m excited. I told Chief (Berube) that the most important thing is I can’t just play one game if you want to try centre. We agree on that,” Nylander said, while slyly noting that you’d have to ask Sheldon Keefe why he only received a brief look down in the middle in the past.
There will be inevitable changes in responsibility for Nylander, whose dynamic speed in transition and shooting ability are truly elite. Nylander would often play overflow minutes on the wing and playing at centre is the most logical pathway to greater icetime. There has been some data to support that Nylander struggles to drive possession share while playing down the middle and Berube outlined the differences and challenges that the 28-year-old will be facing.
“As a centre iceman, you’re playing in your end down low,” Berube said of Nylander’s transition from wing to centre. “Areas like that, breakouts and things like that, being in the right position, working to get back there quickly to help the (defence) out. I don’t think it’s going to be an issue with him getting the puck and transporting up the ice, he’s an elite player and he has that ability. It’s the details of the defensive part of the game, the breakouts and things like that, that takes a little more time.”
It was a demanding practice by design as Berube wanted to set the tone, a common theme shared by several players as the Maple Leafs look to augment their identity, while remaining as an elite offensive team that led the NHL in 5-on-5 goals last season. Nylander will always be a catalyst for success and it doesn’t appear he’ll be getting pulled out of his new role anytime soon.
