Toronto Maple Leafs: Comparing Kessel to Nylander

Phil Kessel used an accurate and lethal wrist shot to become one of the all time great Toronto Maple Leafs. With Similar skills, can William Nylander do the same?

Phil Kessel was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2009 offseason from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a first in 2010 (Tyler Seguin), a second in 2010 (Jared Knight), and a 1st in 2011 (Dougie Hamilton).

William Nylander was drafted eighth overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Leafs.

Similarity #1: Lethal Wrist Shot

Phil Kessel is known as one of the greatest snipers in professional hockey. With his elite vision, he is able to find holes in goalies and score. In 11 seasons, he has scored 20 or more goals nine times (all consecutively). Kessel can create an open lane for himself and can shoot from anywhere in the offensive zone.

Likewise, William Nylander is already making a name for himself as an elite player for the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his first full season in the league, he produced 22 goals in 81 games. He uses his elite vision and teammates to create screens for himself so that he can find a hole in the goalie and put the puck in the net. Also, he is able to score from anywhere in the offensive zone, making him a scoring threat.

Both players are known for their elite shots and vision. They can both create open lanes for themselves and use teammates as screens. Kessel gets the upper hand in this comparison only because Nylander has played one full season in the NHL and hasn’t shown everything he can do.

Similarity #2: Playmaking Abilities

What many have failed to realize is that Kessel is very good at setting up another player to score. He uses his reputation as an elite scorer to force the goalie to pinch on him and then he’ll pass the puck across the crease for an easy set up goal.

Similarly, Nylander forces the goalie to pinch so he can pass the puck to a teammate for an easy goal. He also uses his quick footwork and stick handling to get by the defense and find open lanes to his teammates. To set up Auston Matthews’ 39th goal of the season, Nylander used his amazing deking abilities to create an open lane.

Both players are able to see the ice better than most. They can create plays out of nothing and make them highlight reel goals. They also force the opposing goalie to pinch causing an easy backdoor goal for their teammates. Adding this to their elite shots causes them to be very dangerous when they have the puck.

Similarity #3: Strong Skating Abilities

Kessel is one of the strongest skaters in today’s NHL. He has an explosive speed that not many can keep up with. This causes him to be able to use his speed to create an open lane for him to shoot or pass the pack. Kessel is a scary player to have possession of the puck because you don’t know what he’s going to do.

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Similarly, Nylander has speed to burn and is a dynamic skater. He uses his speed to get close to the defense and then deke around them. He will also go down the boards and make a cross crease pass. With his elite shot and playmaking ability, Nylander is a difficult player to defend against.

Both players are able to use their quick speed to drive a play. They can set themselves up for a shot or to pass to an open player. This causes both players to be offensive threats that can change the course of a game.

Conclusion:

Both players are big offensive threats. They are able to drive a play and create goal opportunities out of nothing. They can find a hole in the goalie to score a goal or force the goalie to pinch and assist on a goal. Also, by using their speed they create open lanes for themselves and their teammates.

While Kessel has been in the league for a longer period of time, Nylander is already a player that teams don’t like playing against.  Nylander is young and is still developing. For those reasons if I had to choose one it would be Nylander.

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Kessel is an amazing player and any team would be lucky to have him but Nylander is already really good and will continue to grow into one of the best in the league. Hopefully he blossoms into an elite player for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

stats from hockeydb.com