The Maple Leafs had just one group skating on Monday ahead of their annual Muskoka team bonding trip.
The Maple Leafs had just one group skating on Monday ahead of their annual Muskoka team bonding trip.
Playing center for the Toronto Maple Leafs is still up in the air for William Nylander ahead of the regular season.
The forward skated alongside Bobby McMann and Max Domi during Toronto's practice session on Monday before the team left for their annual Muskoka trip. Both Nylander and Domi took reps at center, signalling that there could be some questions about the 28-year-old down the middle.
"It's been good. I mean, I've only played one game so far, basically, so in that aspect, it's been a little weird because I didn't play that second game," said Nylander on Monday. "But yeah, other than that, I've been grinding every day and it's not been easy practices."
One reason behind the subtle switch is that John Tavares didn't skate with the group due to an injury. (He and Calle Jarnkrok are expected to take part in Toronto's next practice, Berube said on Monday.)
Nylander also used "versatility" to describe why he took reps on the wing at practice, adding that getting acclimated to the position will take some time.
"I think the versatility is good to be able to go [to center] if I need to go there for a shift or two and then go to the wing for a shift or two — to be able to do that is just important."
Berube also pumped the brakes on the Nylander-to-center experiment potentially coming to an end.
"It's a work in progress is the way I'd put it. It's not easy to just switch it over and play center. It's a lot more on your plate, but I think he's done a pretty good job, to be honest with you," the Maple Leafs' head coach said.
"Again, throughout the season, it'd be nice to have a right-handed faceoff guy. We don't have one. Willy's going to keep working at it."
Nylander has only played one game at center during this training camp. It could've been two, but the forward took a knee to the head in their home game against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday and didn't return.
This experiment occurred last season under then-Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, however, that didn't last very long. And whether it lasts longer this time around remains to be seen.
"It's no big deal. It's no big deal," Nylander said. "Wherever I end up playing, it doesn't matter."
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