Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Point streak at 17 games
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Nylander scored the overtime winner and added a power-play assist in Sunday's 4-3 victory over the Wild.
The 27-year-old wasted little time extended his franchise-record scoring streak to begin the season to 17 games, helping to set up Auston Matthews for the Maple Leafs' opening goal midway through the first period. Nylander then played hero in overtime, collecting the puck in his own zone, accelerating down the ice and then beating a poke-check attempt from Marc-Andre Fleury to win it. Nylander's racked up 12 goals and 27 points during his streak, putting him one point behind a trio of Canucks (Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller) for the NHL scoring lead, but Sunday's tally was his first game-winner of the season.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Three-point effort against Wings
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Nylander scored a power-play goal and added two even-strength assists in Friday's 3-2 win over the Red Wings.
The Maple Leafs were down 2-0 heading into the third period, but Nylander and his linemates John Tavares and Tyler Bertuzzi each found the back of the net to fuel the comeback victory. Nylander's season-opening point streak keeps growing and stands at a franchise-record 16 games, but the 27-year-old has a long, long way to go to match Wayne Gretzky's NHL record of 51 games to kick off the 1983-84 campaign. Nylander is, however, just one game short of tying the best streak in the 21st century of 17 games, set by Henrik Zetterberg in 2007-08 and matched by Connor McDavid in 2021-22.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Season-opening streak at 15 games
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Nylander scored a goal Saturday in a 5-2 win over Vancouver.
Willie extended his season-opening point streak to 15 games with the goal. He has 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) during the streak. Nylander, who is playing out the final year on his contract, continues to be unfazed by playing in the Big Smoke or his contract status. He's the kind of player that handles the pressure of Toronto perfectly. Enjoy this record-setting ride.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Extends point streak to 13
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Nylander scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Senators.
After waiting until overtime Monday to extend his season-opening point streak to 12 games, Nylander wasted no time Wednesday in bumping it to 13, snapping a shot from the high slot past Joonas Korpisalo early in the first period. Nylander has set a new franchise record to begin a season with his streak, in which he's amassed seven goals and 18 points. The 27-year-old appears intent on proving that the career-high 40 goals and 87 points he piled up in 2022-23 are not his ceiling.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Posts 15 points in first 11 games
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Nylander picked up an assist Saturday in a 6-4 loss to the Sabres.
It extended Nylander's season-opening point streak (and franchise record) to 11 games. He has 15 points, including six goals, in those 11 outings. He and linemate John Tavares have been a highly effective duo, no matter who lines up with them. Nylander is a play-and-ignore talent -- he should never be out of your lineup unless the Leafs have the day off.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Franchise record marches on
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Nylander picked up an assist in Thursday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Bruins.
Nylander stretched his franchise-record, season-opening point streak to 10 games and 14 points (six goals, eight assists). He has never looked as confident as he does right now, even without a contract extension. Nylander is betting on himself on a new deal and right now, his decision looks perfect.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Keeps rolling with helper
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Nylander notched a power-play assist and five shots on goal in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Kings.
With the helper, Nylander set the franchise record for a season-opening point streak at nine games. The 27-year-old has done it with three multi-point efforts in that span, accumulating six goals and seven helpers. He's added 39 shots on net, seven hits and an even plus-minus rating. Nylander is in a contract year, and if he can keep producing at an elite pace, he may price himself out of Toronto's already tight cap situation.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Sets Leafs' franchise mark
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Nylander scored a power-play goal in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Predators on Saturday.
He put the Buds up 1-0 at 13:32 of the first period with a power-play goal on a one-timer off a feed from Auston Matthews. Nylander has 12 points, including six goals, on his eight-game point streak. He's the fourth player in Maple Leafs history to begin the season with an eight-game point streak, joining Frank Mahovlich, Lanny McDonald and John Anderson.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Season-long scoring streak
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Nylander scored a goal in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Capitals.
Nylander took a stretch pass from Auston Matthews, blew around defender Nick Jensen and then roofed the puck past Darcy Kuemper. Nylander's season-long scoring streak stands at six games and 10 points (five goals, five assists). He bet on himself this season in terms of waiting on a new contract, and his price continues to rise. Leafs fans often complain about Willie, but Nylander is exactly the kind of character who thrives in the hockey hotbed called Toronto.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Points in every game this season
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Nylander scored a goal and added an assist in a 4-3 overtime win over Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Nylander opened the score at 4:16 of the first period with a wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle on a feed from John Tavares. He then returned the favor in overtime, dishing to Tavares who buried the winner with 55 seconds left in overtime. Nylander has picked up a point in each of the Leafs' first five contests, collecting four goals and five assists in that span. He and Tavares lead the Leafs in scoring with nine points apiece.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Pockets helper Monday
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Nylander notched an assist, two shots on goal and a minus-2 rating in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Blackhawks.
This was the quietest of Nylander's three games this season, but he still got on the scoresheet when he set up a John Tavares goal in the second period. So far, Nylander has three goals, three helpers, 13 shots on net and three hits. He's virtually guaranteed to stay in the top six while receiving ample power-play time in a strong offense. Nylander had 87 points in 82 games last season, and it's plausible he could top those numbers in 2023-24.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Highlight-reel work again
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Nylander had two goals and an assist Saturday in a 7-4 victory over the Wild.
His first goal was highlight reel worthy. Nylander made it 3-1 late in the first when he made a move in the left circle, cut hard inside Joel Eriksson Ek across the crease and tucked the puck past Filip Gustavsson's outstretched glove. Nylander made it 7-3 at 12:14 of the third when he wired a shot short side below the blocker from the left circle. He has three goals and two assists with 11 shots in the first two games of the season. Nylander is dialed in.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Goal, assist in win
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Nylander tallied a goal and an assist in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Canadiens.
Nylander put Toronto ahead 3-2 with a power-play tally late in the second period before setting up Auston Matthews' game-tying score with just over a minute left in the third. It's an encouraging start for the 27-year-old Nylander after he posted career highs in goals (40) and points (87) last year. He's set up for another big campaign while skating on the Maple Leafs' second line and top power-play unit.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Back at wing with scoring touch
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Nylander returned to wing Thursday against Detroit and scored twice in a 4-3 overtime win.
The second goal clinched the game. Nylander was back on John Tavares' wing because of the emergence of 19-year-old rookie pivot, Fraser Minten, who has been lauded for his strong defensive play and impressive hockey sense. If Minten makes the team, Nylander could be back with Tavares permanently, but it remains to be seen if the Leafs can juggle their roster sufficiently to carry a rookie center on the third line.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Practicing Saturday
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Nylander (illness) returned to practice Saturday, Terry Koshan of The Toronto Sun reports.
Nylander missed practice Friday with flu-like symptoms. Nylander is expected to play center this season while remaining on the first power-play unit. He had 40 goals and 47 assists in 82 games while playing primarily as a winger last season, both career highs. This is the final year of a six-year contract Nylander signed in December of 2018.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Has flu-like symptoms
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Nylander missed practice Friday with flu-like symptoms, according to Lance Hornby of The Toronto Sun.
Nylander will not play in Montreal on Friday. The talented forward had a career-year in 2022-23, scoring 40 goals and adding 47 assists while playing in all 82 games for the second time in his career. This is a contract year for the 27-year-old, so expect Nylander to have another outstanding offensive season. Consider him day-to-day at this time.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Good start at center
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Nylander had five shots on goal, eight attempts, was around the puck all game and had some chemistry with linemate Max Domi in Sunday's first exhibition game.
He started off slowly at the dot, but finished at 50 percent, winning 11-of-22 draws, and he nearly tied up the game in the final 20 seconds on a feed from Domi. Nylander could move up to the second line if he flourishes down the middle, ultimately bumping John Tavares to line three or the wing. We're a long way from that, but it's not an unreasonable possibility, and that could push him up even higher on draft boards.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Pivoting to center to start camp
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Nylander will open training camp at center, reports the Toronto Sun.
Nylander, who was a pivot as a teenager, has mostly skated on the right wing in the NHL. But the Leafs need a center with Alex Kerfoot gone, and the position would give both the Leafs and Willie more flexibility. "I told Sheldon 'wherever you want me, I'm happy,' " said Nylander, who is eager to give it a try. "Maybe I get the puck more in the middle, but on wing maybe more breakaways." To start camp, Nylander has been skating with Max Domi and Calle Jarnkrok, and that trio would stretch the Leafs' offense across three offensive-minded lines.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Goal drought continues
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Nylander failed to find the back of the net against the Panthers on Tuesday despite putting seven shots on net.
Nylander has now gone five straight contests without a goal and is stuck in a three-game pointless streak. During the regular season, the Calgary native's worst slump was six games. Combined with the fact that he's recorded 24 shots during his slump, fantasy players shouldn't be too worried about his goalless streak lasting overly long.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Has three-point game Monday
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Nylander notched three assists in Toronto's 5-4 overtime victory over Tampa Bay in Game 4 on Monday.
Two of Nylander's three points were registered while Toronto had the man advantage. He's up to two goals and seven points in four playoff outings this year, including three power-play points. Nylander is on a six-game point streak and has been held off the scoresheet just once over his last eight appearances.
