Feb 21, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center William Nylander (29) skates with the puck against the Winnipeg Jets at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Jets 5-4 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center William Nylander (29) skates with the puck against the Winnipeg Jets at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Jets 5-4 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
The Toronto Maple Leafs have found youthful exuberance this season and it’s time for William Nylander to feel the love.
Yes, there’s a third rookie on the Leafs roster that’s scored a fair amount of goals this year. It’s 17 in case you were wondering. Like Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner, some of William Nylander’s goals have been stunning. What’s even more impressive with his game is that he is already a superstar at carrying the puck.
Watching Willie with the puck is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen as a Leafs fan. We have to give Mike Babcock some credit for this. What do you mean, Andrew? Well, he coaches Nylander and it’s obvious that he’s put a lot of trust and faith into his play.
He lets him play his game. Some of the time, it results in a complete play that’s pretty special. Let’s count down to his best goal of the season.
5. v. Boston Bruins x3
This was Nylander’s third goal of the game, completing his first career NHL hat trick. I’ve said it before. In order to receive a clean pass, a player has to be in the right position. Nylander is in the right position here, no doubt.
He takes and controls the pass. It’s clear that he’s got a lot of time. So, he just outwaits Tuukka Rask.
It’s a simple way to beat a goalie. Wait him out, let him make the first move. That’s just what Nylander does and he’s rewarded with a goal. A hat trick goal.
Now, I’m not just saying patience will always result in a goal. It also takes a wicked shot, which this kid possesses in his arsenal. He picked his spot and the puck slides through what seems like a piece swiss cheese.
4. v. Boston Bruins x2
His second goal of this particular game. You can’t see it from the video above but, Nylander started the play out by skating out of his own zone and into the clear. Something we often see him do. Closing in on Rask he had a couple of options.
He could have opted to pass it. Chances are it wouldn’t have reached its intended destination.
Being the smart player Willie is, he chooses the alternative. In this case, it’s picking a spot and hoping the puck hits it.
Feeling the backpressure of Austin Czarnik and taking a potential hook, he still manages to raise the puck over Rask’s shoulder in tight for the goal.
He’s even thrown off balance by Czarnik as his right skate is off the ice when he releases the puck. It’s an underappreciated goal, in my opinion.
3. v. Boston Bruins x1
I didn’t plan to show his three goals from his hat trick game in the order that is presented. It’s ironic because I didn’t even realize that I selected all three of the goals until I got to this final one. But, they were three of his best. Here’s his first goal that started off the hat trick.
Nazem Kadri makes a veteran play, realizing that he needs to dish the puck to his winger who in this case is Nylander. He was running out of time and space. Head up the whole time, noticing that Willie is breaking for the net.
Nylander collects the pass on the backhand on one side of Rask and drags it across to the other side for a surefire open net.
The way Nylander receives the puck is why Rask is so thrown off. It also doesn’t help that he came in with such tremendous speed. The simplicity of the one touch to the other side by Nylander forces Rask to make a decision on where to be positioned.
He chose wrong, plain and simple. Great feed for an even greater goal.
2. v. Nashville Predators
Ben Smith comes streaking in with great speed and possession of the puck, attempting a pass behind the net. It gets picked off by a Filip Forsberg. He then gets stripped of the puck by Nylander who makes a beautiful two-step deke around the opposition.
Nylander adjusts the angle of his skates to face the net and fires it past Marek Mazanec. The fact that he had the hockey IQ and awareness to just put it on net proves he’s beyond his years.
A quick turn and release, resulting in a top shelf goal.
It’s amazing to me how already, he can turn nothing into something. Doesn’t matter how much time or space he has. Nylander’s going to dazzle.
1. v. Arizona Coyotes
*I’m not crying, it’s just my allergies.* Did you just see that? Nylander comes soaring over the blue line on the right side with Oliver Ekman-Larsson chopping at him. He’s not phased.
Besides James van Riemsdyk, Nylander may be the best player on the team when he’s in that tight on the net.
A few strides before closing in on Mike Smith, he lets up a bit to allow him to try something creative. And, he delivers. Nylander digs his left skates edge into the ice to use his stick as a fulcrum, lifting the puck up. His speed forces Smith to try the fabled two pad stack. Poor choice mister full-ice five-hole.
Somehow, Nylander is able to get the puck up and over Smith. Look how tight he is around the crease. The ability to lift the puck up that fast on the backhand is a skill very few players in the world possess.
And, he’s just a rookie. By far, Nylander’s best goal in the NHL.
I’m glad you stuck around for the bonus video. This one’s special. In this clip, we see Matthews win the draw resulting in Leafs puck possession. Or puck dominance. But, I’ll let you see for yourself.
The loose puck is gathered up by Nylander who makes a few nifty moves around the defenders. He dishes the puck to Zach Hyman behind the net and gets the puck right back after being knocked down.
A couple of dipsy doodles later, the puck finds itself on the stick of Matthews who does some moves of his own. They then combine for a pretty nice give and go.
It appears that they both like skating with the puck on that side wall. Go figure.
Matthews is in scoring position for the first time in this sequence. His body posture is angled towards the net. Nylander notices this and dishes the puck to him as Matthews lets the puck loose.
The two took a faceoff win and made it into a gorgeous play. Each twisting and turning away from the opposition, fighting for room. In the end, the Leafs score. What incredible footwork, stickhandling, and teamwork for an incredible goal.
