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Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: Biggest Storylines Out of Training Camp

By Wilbert Timmermans

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 07: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his third period goal at 16:54 with Morgan Rielly #44, William Nylander #88, Auston Matthews #34, Zach Hyman #11 amd Mitchell Marner #16 against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 07, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 07: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his third period goal at 16:54 with Morgan Rielly #44, William Nylander #88, Auston Matthews #34, Zach Hyman #11 amd Mitchell Marner #16 against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 07, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 07: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  . (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images) /

Michael Da Ponte

After a week of practices and scrimmages, there have been several interesting storylines coming out of training camp and into the regular season.

The one I am looking at most closely as training camp turns over to the regular season is the play of William Nylander.

Nylander took a huge step forward last year and outplayed his contract despite his harshest critics. He scored 31 goals while being shuffled around a bit up and down the line-up. This year he should be solidified on the second line with Tavares for most of the season and I am looking for him to take another giant leap this season into superstar status.

Throughout his career, Tavares has helped multiple players to have their own career-best seasons while playing on his wing. Despite the shortened 56 game season, I am expecting Nylander to equal or surpass his impressive season last year and catapult himself into the upper echelon of the league’s elite players.

Nylander and Tavares showed tremendous chemistry during the Blue v. White scrimmage Saturday night. If they can carry that chemistry throughout the season the Leafs will have two number-one lines that will cause havoc throughout the Canadian division.

There is no team in Canada that can match up with the two-headed monster that the Leafs will be rolling out this season. That is why I am watching Nylander’s rise carefully. It could be the difference between a Cup contender and a Cup favourite.

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