Swedish superstar Erik Karlsson had some wonderful things to say about Maple Leafs winger William Nylander following Sweden's thrilling matchup with Finland.
Team Sweden has faced some tough luck at the start of the 4 Nations Face-Off, suffering a 4-3 overtime loss to Team Finland today, marking their second consecutive OT defeat.
However, one player who is standing out among his peers on Team Sweden is Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander. Nylander was assigned to the top line and has remained there throughout the tournament.
According to Mark Masters on X, three-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson shared his admiration for Nylander's growth.
'Someone who's taken huge strides with a huge amount of pressure on him to deliver, & he's done so for a long period of time now & really proven that he's a very consistent top player in this league.'
Nylander has had an incredible season with the Maple Leafs, emerging as their most consistent forward. With 55 points in as many games, he ranks second in the entire NHL with 33 goals.
Nylander's rise to stardom has clearly not gone unnoticed, as he and fellow Maple Leafs teammates Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews have been met with boos from the crowd during the tournament. However, in Matthews' mind, it's clear that this only means they're doing something right.
A proud Swede, Nylander, who was born in Canada, has the option to represent either country, but has consistently stated he has always been a Swede at heart. There's been no doubt about which nation he would choose and has chosen throughout his career.
With Sweden's second straight OT loss, they will need to play with greater urgency to stay competitive in the tournament, and Nylander must be the player to lead them forward. We'll find out if he's up to the task this coming week.
