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Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: William Nylander @ Centre

By James Tanner

Mar 20, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (29) shoots the puck against the Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Boston 4-2. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (29) shoots the puck against the Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Boston 4-2. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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John Krpan:

The idea of moving the160lb Marner into the faceoff dot‎ is absurd on its surface, as well as on every other level.

We barely thought he could play in the NHL before this season because of this size, let’s not get ahead of ourselves and try to make someone into something that they are not.

Moving Nylander to Center this season is very premature. He played 22 games at the end of the 2015/16 mostly under center‎ because Babcock had no other option down the middle. If we see nylander at center next season it will and and should only be because of injuries.

Toronto Maple Leafs
Apr 8, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner (16) goes the boards against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Toronto Maple Leafs were fortunate not to lose many guys to injures this past season. Don’t expect that same luck to continue for another full season. Let’s keep Bozak, play Marner and Nylander on the wing, and if injuries occur we can put Nylander in there. But just because these kids have made the NHL, it doesn’t mean they are done learning.

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