After it looked like 50 goals were in reach last year, William Nylander finished the season with an 11-game goalless drought.
He looked himself during the playoffs, but migraines limited him to just four games in the first round before Toronto’s untimely exit. So when Nylander then started with an exceptionally quiet two-game stretch to start the season – no points and just one shot – things didn’t look too promising for the Swedish winger.
And that’s important, given he’s in the first year of an eight-year deal paying him $11.5 million per season. He’s one of the NHL’s highest-paid players in a market that doesn’t tend to treat players they deem to be “overpaid” too kindly. Nylander had something to prove – and it looks like he’s finally clicking again.
William Nylander has 17-21—38 in 42 career games against the Lightning (regular season & playoffs), marking his highest point total versus a single franchise.
Catch the game on @SportsOnPrimeCA, @NHLNetwork and @TVASports.#NHLStats: https://t.co/g8rPTyd87G https://t.co/YwyTLGpUQj
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 22, 2024
It all started with two goals in Toronto’s home opener against Pittsburgh. He then followed it up with another two-point night against Los Angeles last Wednesday. He didn’t get on the scoresheet on Saturday against the Rangers, but he had a team-high eight shots in an otherwise solid showing for No. 88.
And then, against a hot Tampa Bay Lightning team last night, he really showed up. Nylander scored the opening goal in the first period before assisting on Auston Matthews’ go-ahead goal in the second. He then scored his second of the night to make it 3-1 on Toronto’s 13th shot of the game before the midway mark, putting the game out of reach.
Nylander has found great chemistry alongside Max Domi and Bobby McMann, making up a strong second line. The Leafs toyed with the idea of putting Nylander back at center to kick off the season but he’s looking at home again with Domi doing more of the two-way work. Nylander is at his best when he can be creative and fire shots on net – it’s why he put up a career-best 40 goals and 98 points last year.
While it’s still exceptionally early, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Nylander beat those numbers this season. Nylander is no stranger to absolute heaters – remember when he had 27 points in 17 games to kick off last year? It set a Maple Leafs record, and it probably helped his case to earn a mighty fine paycheck in the winter.
This is the Nylander the Leafs need – the one generating offence and playing with confidence. He hasn’t lacked his trademark smile, and we’re seeing more of it now as he’s starting to look like the Nylander that was unstoppable in the upper half of 2023-24.
Monday was a statement game—a huge night for an important player against a divisional foe that has dealt Toronto its fair share of heartbreak — and vice versa. Toronto’s real hero was goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who looked as dialled in as we’ve seen him in a Leafs uniform this year. But with three points, it was Nylander’s most productive game since he put up three points against Washington back on March 20.
“I think his poise, his confidence with the puck, he’s just so smart in practice,” Stolarz said post-game on Monday. “He’s always pushing. He has such a good release. I’m glad he’s on my side now.”
Matthews is starting to heat up, too, which is huge for the Leafs. Mitch Marner has been excellent, Domi has been so productive despite making so little and Oliver Ekman-Larsson has been a great source of offense from the back end. Next up, the Leafs will need to get more from John Tavares and Matthew Knies. Some more offense out of Nick Robertson and Max Pacioretty wouldn’t hurt, either.
But right now, and always, they need Nylander showing up when it matters most. And after a slow opening week, Nylander is looking confident as hell – the relentless, skilled, Willy Styles we’re used to watching.
