When Craig Berube decided to take the Toronto Maple Leafs head coaching position, one of the biggest factors in his decision was how Toronto had such a talented core. William Nylander is a major part of what Berube was so excited about and watching their relationship grow is going to be one of the more entertaining storylines to follow next season.
Nylander has his moments. One moment he’s the best player on the planet, and the next he appears to be floating behind the play, while the latter has happened less frequently in the past couple of seasons, it’s still something the very intense Berube will have to manage throughout an 82-game season. Their personalities couldn’t be more different so it’s going to be a case of if opposites do actually attract.
As far as where in the lineup Nylander plays under Berube, it’s obviously within the top six. It will be interesting to see exactly where. First line with Auston Matthews? Second line with John Tavares? Right-wing? Some time at centre?
Nylander is as skilled as they come and last season the Maple Leafs coaching staff gave Nylander a very short look at centre. For now, that conversation doesn’t seem to be on the agenda, but that all could change in one training camp practice. It feels like, as we stand the second week of August, that Nylander is destined to start next season at right wing, on the second line, playing alongside Tavares and a staple on the Leafs’ first power-play unit.
Circling back to last season, Nylander produced 98 points in 82 games, he played nearly 20 minutes a game and averaged 59 seconds killing penalties. That’s one of the biggest questions heading into next season, will Berube use Nylander on the penalty kill? While the likes of David Kampf, Pontus Holmberg, Calle Jarnkrok Connor Dewar and Mitch Marner will likely get the majority of the workload, fully expect to see Nylander getting some time shorthanded. He won’t be on the top PK unit, but he likely sees around one minute per game again next season down a man.
Nylander has all the tools needed to be an elite penalty killer. His hockey IQ is off the charts, he’s able to get his stick into passing lanes and anticipate where the other team wants to do their damage from. Nylander led the Leafs with three shorthanded goals last season and don’t be surprised if he leads the team again in 2024-25.
When it comes to even strength, Nylander played the most in 2023-24 with Tavares and Tyler Bertuzzi, followed by Matthews and Matthew Knies. The Marner vs Nylander debate has been taking place for years now, so it will be fun to see what Berube prefers. I’d expect to see Nylander on the second line with Tavares and Bobby McMann to start 2024-25 but ‘Chief’ could have other ideas.
Expectations rise with new lucrative contract
While there are always lofty expectations when you wear the Maple Leaf, this season it’s elevated for Nylander as he enters the first season of an eight-year, $92-million contract. His average annual value has increased from $6.9 million up to $11.5 million and anything less than another 90-point season will be considered a disappointment.
Of course, all anyone in Leaf land cares about is having some success during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but throughout the regular season, it’s going to be important for Nylander to continue displaying good habits, working his tail off to build Berube’s trust and diminishing those moments where Leafs Nation wants to throw their remote at the television because he’s floating around the ice.
Berube’s expectations are going to be sky-high for his core players and Nylander is going to be dead smack in the middle of it. Sheldon Keefe was hard on Nylander at times throughout their tenure, so the player’s certainly used to being pushed, but this could be a new level and should be a new level.
Berube was brought in for a new voice, an intense one, with a proven ability to push a team’s best players over the hump. Pushing Nylander to new heights could propel this Maple Leafs team to elite status.
