Toronto Maple Leafs: Demoting William Nylander Is a Terrible Decision

There’s a new idea that’s being trialed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, positioning William Nylander as a center. It’s not just a bad idea, it’s a dumb one as well.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been searching for a winning formula for quite some time. Their lack of success has had a massive impact on the front office, which included a series of events leading to the dismissal of Kyle Dubas and the hiring of his replacement as general manager, Brad Treliving.

As the franchise strives for success, they appear to be willing to experiment with various line combinations and positional changes for players. Coach Sheldon Keefe has already tipped his hand that this has begun with the move of Nylander shifting to center. While versatility is often celebrated in hockey, this particular move is a bad idea.

The point of this move seems to be for the Leafs to add depth to their lineup. Nylander would drop to the third line behind Auston Matthews and John Tavares. It would then push David Kämpf to the fourth line.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Demoting William Nylander Is a Terrible Decision

On the surface, this may look like a clever distribution of talent. Putting Kämpf on the fourth brings stronger defense to the line. It also improves the third line’s offense. The problem is, it also reduces the quality of the top six. The negative impact outweighs the benefit.

Nylander has been dynamic playing alongside Tavares. They enhance each other’s games. Adding Matthews Knies to the duo would allow the rookie to be protected and he could learn from a couple of excellent and established players.

The absence of Nylander will require him to be replaced. Whether it’s Max Domi, Calle Järnkrok, or Nick Robertson (who some speculate has the most to gain from a Nylander demotion) filling the role, the drop off is enormous. Should Tavares’ stats take a dip this, the question should be raised as to whether separating him from Nylander was a worthwhile decision.

There will also be an adjustment period for Nylander as he gets used to a new position in the best hockey league on the planet. As he does that, he’ll also need to learn how to play with new linemates. All of it will take some time.

Nylander’s possession metrics are incredible. His Corsi rating across all situations is an impressive 59.7. That’s 13.4 points higher relative to his team. With a move to center, those metrics should also see a drop.

The Toronto Maple Leafs greatest asset was their collection of star players spread across two lines. It isn’t wise to break up the best part of the club.

If the team wanted a more balanced lineup, they probably shouldn’t have invested in poor defenders like Ryan Reaves and John Klingberg. It may actually be their signings that have led the Leafs to their current position of needing to demote Nylander to the third line. None of it has been wise.

Perhaps the Nylander experiment proves to be a success. If so, it’s because he is a brilliant player and the Leafs are fortunate to have him. Time will tell whether it’s a long lasting move.