William Nylander Is NOT The Problem In Toronto

William Nylander Is NOT The Problem In Toronto

We can sit here and do the blame pie thing when it comes to any Leafs meltdown. I just don’t want to hear it anymore when it comes to William Nylander. Blame anyone you want. Just not William Nylander. I will take that guy on my team any day of the week. Nylander is far from the problem in Toronto.

Last night I’m watching the Leafs and Canes game right before Sunday night football. Carolina is probably the best team in the Metro so if the Leafs want to be taken seriously, winning these prime ESPN games is a good start. Up 2-1 and Nylander makes a ridiculous play to end it.

https://twitter.com/NHL_fi/status/1589526527116558339

For the record, that’s Nylander’s 5th goal of the season. The Leafs winger also has eight assists keeping at a point-per-game pace 13 games in. Nylander, 26, also sports 55.4 CF% and 62.2% oZs rates. He’s also so smooth on the powerplay playing a crucial role in Toronto leading the NHL in conversation rate a year ago.

engagements please #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/7RvjP5Y0j0

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) November 7, 2022

What I don’t get is some of the toxic things on the internet you see talking about Nylander. We don’t need to get into all of that but I just frankly don’t understand it. He puts pucks in the net. He makes plays so that others put pucks in net. What exactly am I missing?

Don’t worry, Nylander has been a steal as a 6th round pick in fantasy for proud Icing Daubert’s. I’ll gladly take him if you don’t want him.

Willy was wheelin' 👀 pic.twitter.com/0TNUb48kb0

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 6, 2022

Nylander had 80 points a year ago and looks poised to exceed that mark this year. For less than $7 million per year, how can we possibly say he’s the issue? There’s no reason Nylander ever belongs in trade rumors. Frankly, if he’s not on the team, maybe you think about tearing the whole thing down.

Kyle Dubas has done crazy things before. He traded Nazem Kadri for Tyson Barrie… talk about a stinker. Dubas also just ate the Matt Murray contract for no reason. If Toronto is in a weird spot come the trade deadline, is it impossible Toronto dumps Nylander in a panic trade? I have no idea but I’d be calling to find out.

Side note: Hey, Laurent Brossoit is getting healthy and is very available. With Ilya Samsonov on IR… just saying!

Should The Maple Leafs Trade William Nylander?

If and when the Leafs come up short again, please stop including Nylander in the conversation. Nylander didn’t pick this goalie tandem. Nylander didn’t hand out the Jake Muzzin or TJ Brodie contracts. Nylander can’t control when Alex Kerfoot inevitably blows a wide-open opportunity.

Get the memo Leafs fans? Be smarter about who you’re blaming for this Leafs mess.