William Nylander is playing out of his mind.
Auston Matthews is the better overall player – I am still assuming at this piont – but William Nylander isn’t that far off. His play so far in the playoffs has been spectacular to the point where he’s out-played Matthews.
As recently pointed out, Auston Matthews has been dominant. And if Matthews is dominant, then I don’t know what you call whatever Nylander has been. It’s been something to behold.
When a team has Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, it’s understandable how someone else could get overlooked, but Nylander has been ignored to a criminal degree.
TSN’s Craig Button infamously said he will not be a Leafs long-term and for a while it seemed like TSN was really pushing the Nylander-for-Defenseman trade.
As I was forced to point out here, that was ridiculous. Not only is trading a winger for a defenceman an almost surefire way to make a horrible trade, value-wise, but Nylander is awesome. William Nylander is untouchable.
William Nylander led all Leafs forwards with a 52.52% possession rating this season. He had 22 goals and 61 points as a rookie. That was good for 38th on the league scoring charts.
He did it while playing 16 minutes per game, significantly less than almost every player ahead of him.
William Nylander in the Playoffs
William Nylander has been the Toronto Maple Leafs best forward in the Playoffs so far. Considering the play of Matthews, Hyman, Kadri and James van Riesmdye, that’s an accomplishment.
So far, he has a goal and three assists for four points. The Leafs have really spread the scoring around – he’s tied with Marner, Matthews, Bozak and Rielly for the team lead.
But the points aren’t the whole story. It’s puck possession and shot ratios.
When William Nylander has been on the ice, the Leafs have controlled 62.6% of the shots. That is insane. Anything +55% is ELITE. I don’t even think a Corsi this high is sustainable by anyone, but it’s impressive never the less. In one game, Nylander put up an 80% .
When he’s on the ice, the Capitals – the NHL’s best team, mind you – are averaging 20 shots per game. The worst team this year averaged 27.
The Leafs are also getting 36 shots/60 with Nylander on the ice. He makes everyone he plays with better in a Patrice Bergeron fashion. The best defensive team in the NHL looks lost when he’s on the ice.
He makes Auston Matthews better.
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At this point Nylander would go first-overall in his draft year, if it was redrafted. The Leafs are going to have to lock him up for the next eight years and put the stupidest set of rumours in franchise history to rest.
You can’t credibly say that Nylander is as good as Matthews. Yet. The stats are suggesting it’s getting close to a personal preference. William Nylander could yet end up in the McDavid, Eichel, Matthews conversation.
He’s that good.
If these Playoffs are any indication, William Nylander has the potential to be one of, if not the best player in the NHL.