Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander is the sixth-best winger in the NHL, according to NHL Network. In an article published on Wednesday [https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-current-players-ranked-top-20-wings-2025?utm_source=nhldotcom&utm_medium=social], the site—with the help of NHL Network producers and analysts—revealed its top 20 wingers across the league. A few prominent players placed behind Nylander were fellow Swede Adrian Kempe [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/players/report-kings-adrian-kempe-asking-price-on-next-contract-revealed] (20), Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals/latest-news/alex-ovechkin-still-has-the-stick-he-broke-gretzky-s-record-with-set-to-exhibit-in-russia-this-week] (17), Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/ottawa-senators-captain-brady-tkachuk-featured-on-nhl-26-cover] (14), and Florida Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/panthers-matthew-tkachuk-revealed-as-ea-sports-nhl-26-cover-athlete] (7). Nylander had a career year with the Maple Leafs, finishing second in goals with 45, behind Edmonton Oilers’ forward Leon Draisaitl [https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=season&seasonFrom=20242025&seasonTo=20242025&gameType=2&sort=goals&page=0&pageSize=50], who scored 52. He was also second in team scoring with 84 points in 82 games, only trailing Mitch Marner [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/nhl-26-trailer-features-mitch-marner-shooting-on-maple-leafs-does-he-score] with 102 points. “Nylander is one of four players to score 40 goals in three straight seasons for the Maple Leafs along with Auston Matthews [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/always-working-his-ass-off-sharks-ryan-reaves-praises-auston-matthews-after-first-year-as-maple-leafs-captain] (five straight, 2019-24), Rick Vaive (1981-84) and Lanny McDonald (1976-79),” NHL.com [http://nhl.com] wrote. “Nylander also played all 82 games for the third straight season; his streak of 259 consecutive games played is seventh among active NHL forwards.” NHL 26 Trailer Features Mitch Marner Shooting On Maple Leafs — Does He Score? [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/95a8db7a-bab9-48bd-8e10-9a5b933c8b58.webp] NHL 26 Trailer Features Mitch Marner Shooting On Maple Leafs — Does He Score? The time of year has arrived when Electronic Arts teases the latest installment of its popular hockey video game series. On Thursday, the company dropped a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qHCn23PeGQ">two-minute trailer</a> for NHL ’26 — and, as expected, they slipped in shots of players sporting their new teams’ jerseys. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/nhl-26-trailer-features-mitch-marner-shooting-on-maple-leafs-does-he-score] Right in front of the 29-year-old on the list is Marner, who’s now with the Vegas Golden Knights. He joined Vegas after a sign-and-trade with Toronto, which featured Nicolas Roy heading back to the Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/nicolas-roy-ready-for-top-six-role-with-maple-leafs-whenever-called-upon]. Marner finished fifth in the NHL for points last season. Dallas Stars’ forward Mikko Rantanen [https://thehockeynews.com/news/three-big-things-the-nhls-mega-mikko-rantanen-trade-tells-us] (4), Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/where-wild-s-kirill-kaprizov-ranks-among-wingers-in-the-nhl] (3), Boston Bruins’ David Pastrnak [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins/latest-news/bruins-where-david-pastrnak-ranks-among-nhl-s-best-wingers] (2), and Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/latest-news/lightning-s-nikita-kucherov-wins-ted-lindsay-award-voted-by-his-peers] make up the remainder of the NHL’s top wingers. Nicolas Roy Ready for Top-Six Role With Maple Leafs Whenever Called Upon [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0d0c6065-79b1-4bed-8bc2-ef7f061c438c.webp] Nicolas Roy Ready for Top-Six Role With Maple Leafs Whenever Called Upon While the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> continue their search for a top-six forward ahead of the 2025–26 NHL season, newly acquired center <a href="https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/player/nicolas-roy-8478462">Nicolas Roy </a>could help fill the gap in the meantime. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/nicolas-roy-ready-for-top-six-role-with-maple-leafs-whenever-called-upon] A fascinating player who was left off the list was Matthew Knies [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/why-matthew-knies-wanted-to-go-long-term-on-six-year-extension-with-the-maple-leafs]. Although Brady Tkachuk led the Ottawa Senators to their first playoff birth in eight seasons, Knies finished last year with more points [https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/player/matthew-knies-8482720] in the regular season (29 goals and 29 assists). However, it’s worth mentioning that Brady had more playoff points [https://www.nhl.com/senators/player/brady-tkachuk-8480801] (seven in six games) than Knies (three goals) in the first-round series between Toronto and Ottawa, which the Maple Leafs won in six games [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/i-thought-i-was-done-playing-a-number-of-times-how-maple-leafs-max-pacioretty-persevered-to-score-series-clinching-goal-against-senators]. Nylander tallied nine points (three goals and six assists) in the series. Two-Time Stanley Cup Winner Kyle Clifford Retires, Joins Maple Leafs In Player Development Role [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/1cfbfece-e4a8-47aa-a8bf-3565200f45b8.webp] Two-Time Stanley Cup Winner Kyle Clifford Retires, Joins Maple Leafs In Player Development Role Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Kyle Clifford is calling it a career. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/two-time-stanley-cup-winner-kyle-clifford-reportedly-retires-joins-maple-leafs-in-player-development-role] Despite being on summer break, Nylander has had a massive offseason. First, he was named one of six players to represent Team Sweden [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/why-maple-leafs-william-nylander-was-named-one-of-first-six-players-to-sweden-s-2026-olympic-roster] at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan this February. The Swede was also awarded the GuldPucken this week [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/william-nylander-s-father-michael-surprises-maple-leafs-forward-with-sweden-s-top-hockey-honor], given to the top Swedish hockey player of the year. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Former Maple Leafs Star Mitch Marner Ahead Of William Nylander In NHL.com's Top Winger Rankings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/Kx33FSoD3i03PKnK2Ocw]
