Nylander has 96 points with six games remaining in the regular season
Nylander has 96 points with six games remaining in the regular season
Later this week, William Nylander will reach 600 NHL games and the Toronto Maple Leafs star matched his career-high in goals (40) while setting new career-highs in assists (56) and points (96) this season.
Although Auston Matthews' chase to reach 70 goals has been the most intriguing storyline down the stretch for the Leafs, Nylander's production is certainly up there, especially given the player's strong start to the year.
"He's found more consistency, his importance to the team has grown that much more," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of Nylander before the Leafs were set to host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Scotiabank Arena on Monday. "Especially in a season like this one, where we've had a lot of change and a lot of different things we've had from injuries and players trying to find their way that have come in."
The Maple Leafs had difficulty finding their groove in the earlier part of the season, but Nylander helped them ride it out with his consistency. He opened the season with a franchise-record 18-game points streak and his play earned him a whopping eight-year, $92 million contract extension.
"Willy, the way that he started this season especially, got us through some tough times. That just goes to show that he's, on any given night, is the player for us," Keefe added. "He's not just one of the guys, but a lot of nights he's been the player. That's great to see. He's done it more nights this year than I think he ever has. It shows up in the stats, but it also shows up on the video side of it. It's been great and fun to watch."
Nylander is four points away from getting 100 points in a season for the first time in his career. With six games remaining in the regular season, it's certainly attainable.
"It's something that I think a lot of players want to try to get to," Nylander said. "I mean, if it happens, it happens."
Nylander has been moved down to the team's third line since Mitch Marner returned from an ankle injury as the Leafs look to spread out the team's offensive weapons around three lines. But it shouldn't stop the Swede from continuing to put up points.
Outside of the points, the Leafs have been impressed with Nylander's growth in the league.
"He plays a much more physical game than I think he was when I first came in," Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said about Nylander's growth. "Just his ability to play in through traffic and how strong he is on his edges, how powerful he is. And just things like that and his ability to strip pucks, win puck battles. That is just continuing to take another level and his game defensively as well."
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