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Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: Steps Forward

By Mike Stephens

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 25: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Kasperi Kapanen (24) celebrates his short handed goal during Game 7 of the First Round for the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 25, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs 7-4 to advance to the next round. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 25: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Kasperi Kapanen (24) celebrates his short handed goal during Game 7 of the First Round for the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 25, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs 7-4 to advance to the next round. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Nicholas Lucciantonio

I believe many Leafs will have a better season next year. Especially players like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander, where the sky is the limit.

But the player who will take the biggest step next year is Nylander.

He didn’t have a bad year this past season, scoring 61 points and 20 goals. Nylander is speedy and shifty. His passing, stickhandling and shooting are all next level elite. We’ve seen a glimpse of his skills, but he’s just going to get better and better.

Marner had a bigger, more noticeable season, getting almost 70 points and coming up clutch in this past playoffs. But, Nylander has the potential and skill set to breakout this season, especially after a full two seasons of NHL experience. Willy could possibly get around 70-80 points next year.

Which could happen, but it also depends on who he plays with.

New Linemates

Being more mature and experienced will help him out a lot. But, if he is paired with Matthews again, he’ll do fantastic.

Sticking with someone who not only has good chemistry but possibly even a different winger as well would make that line top tier. Putting a player like Kapanen or Johnsson on that line would make them impossible to slow down.

With superstar Matthews most likely having a better year next season, Nylander won’t be far behind. I feel like this upcoming year Willy will have more of a superstar season.

Regardless if he gets a change in line-mates or not, he will take a big step and put a stamp on his superstar status.

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