Jan 31, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars centre Tyler Seguin (91) chases Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (29) during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
William Nylander, Skill, Skill and More Skill
After another season where the Leafs started strong, the fans watched helplessly as the bus went off the cliff once again. Randy Carlyle outsmarted by a toaster was considered newsworthy. The organization was close to rock bottom. Much closer to the Oilers, Coyotes, and Sabres than to the Blackhawks, Penguins, and Kings.
MLSE hired Brendan Shanahan April 11, 2014, sixteen days before the 2014 NHL entry draft. Through the five previous drafts, Leafs prospects combined for a grand total of 75 NHL games. 73 of those games played by Rielly. Shanahan had decided he needed a season to decide a new path for his hockey team, however, there was only one aspect he controlled immediately. The draft.
First and foremost, Shanahan knows what it takes to win because he is a winner. A three-time Stanley Cup Champion. A winner with Canada at the 1991 Canada Cup, the 1994 World Championship and a Gold Medal winner at the Olympic Winter Games.
Out with Truculence, In With Skill
“With the number eight selection in the 2014 entry draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs select William Nylander“.
Don Cherry had a conniption. Yes, Don, they passed on 6′ 3 Nick Ritchie and drafted the most skilled forward in the draft. For fans of the Leafs, it was the first inkling that things are different this time. Nylander, drafted as a centre played this past season on phenom Auston Matthews right side. Arguably the most skilled player in the draft, Willie’s .718 ppg leads his entire draft class. Furthermore this selection showed that while Shanahan would wait and watch as the 2014-15 season unfolded, he was in charge. The Leafs chose to let Nylander stay in Sweden for half of the 2014-15 season while he outgrew and out-scored his contemporaries. Further developing for half a season with the Marlies, Nylander was a late season call-up to the floundering Leafs.
"As a rookie (first 20 or so games, the year before last) he was a playing centre in the NHL and posting positive possession numbers on a last place team. 53% is good for anyone. For a rookie playing on a last place team, it’s down-right amazing. James tanner"
Nylander was NHL ready to begin the 2016-17 season and he did not disappoint. In his first full NHL season, Willie scored 22 goals, 39 assists for 61 points and formed a deadly duo with Matthews while setting rookie records for consecutive-game points streak and power play points. Nylander was also named NHL Rookie of the Month twice. He is one of the most purely skilled players in the NHL.
The Leafs picks from 2010 onwards → Ross, Biggs, Percy, Rielly, Gauthier and Nylander.
The Leafs could have had → Seguin, Hamilton, Rakell, Rielly, André Burakovsky (Shea Theodore) and Nylander.
From this pick onwards, I can find no fault with the Leafs 1st round selections. Nylander is the first core piece of the three-headed Mathlander monster.