For the third straight season, William Nylander has scored 40 goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The forward scored his 40th in a win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday to reach the plateau in back-to-back-to-back seasons in just his 71st game of the season.
On Thursday in a shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks, Nylander added to his total and set a new career-high by scoring two more and bringing his total to 42 goals on the season. But it was his response during his post-game availability on Tuesday that caught the attention of some in the Toronto hockey circle and made others realize that he’s the perfect player for the Maple Leafs’ market.
Nylander Doing What He’s Paid To Do
After scoring two against the Flyers to get to the 40-goal plateau, Nylander was asked about the team’s play and his new career-high. His response was exactly what you’d expect from the easy-going 28-year-old.
“I thought we played a good 60 minutes, created a lot of offence and played good on the defensive side of the puck as well,” he said about the Maple Leafs’ play. “I’m just trying to do what I’m paid to do.”
Nylander is signed through the 2031-32 season with an annual average value (AAV) of $11.5 million. Given that the cap is set to increase in the coming seasons, his contract is looking more and more like a team-friendly deal – especially given his consistent production over the past three seasons.
As for hitting the milestone for the third straight season, Nylander becomes just the fourth player in Maple Leafs’ history to reach that mark. He joins Auston Matthews, who did it in five straight seasons from 2019-20 to 2023-24, as well as Lanny McDonald (three from 1976-77 to 1978-79) and Rick Vaive (three from 1981-82 to 1983-84) as the only four players to do it.
Nylander Models What Maple Leafs’ Players Need
There is a nonchalance about the way that Nylander has handled himself at times with the Maple Leafs. To some, it’s almost endearing. To others, it can be frustrating as it almost seems like he doesn’t take anything seriously – doing post-game interviews without a shirt on, smiling with some of his responses in media scrums and making comments like: “I’m just trying to do what I’m paid to do.”
Outside of it just being his personality, which is great in today’s game, Nylander’s drive and care for the game and his team’s overall success has also been visible throughout his career. Frustrations have boiled over on the bench at times and his determination to get it done in Toronto has also been noted over the past handful of seasons.
But the cool, calm and collected personality is a trademark of what Nylander brings to the Maple Leafs. In fact, I would argue that it’s one of the most beneficial parts of Nylander’s existence in Toronto – especially with a media-heavy presence that can sometimes break a player’s willingness to play for the Maple Leafs.
It’s that same personality that stands out for some of Nylander’s teammates as well – some who’ve had to deal with the pressures of playing for the organization at times.
“The ability to shrug things off, it’s unbelievable…one of the ultimate game breakers,” said his former captain John Tavares.
And it’s a calmness that other Maple Leafs and incoming players can utilize to stave off media and market pressures when they come to play in Toronto. It may not be easy, but the ‘Nylander Model’ might be just the way to have a long, successful career in the city.
Nylander’s Found Success, Consistency With Maple Leafs
The eighth overall pick in 2014 for the Maple Leafs, some questioned Nylander’s drive at times early on his career. His first chunk of games came in 2015-16 when he played in 22 games for the Maple Leafs with six goals and 13 points. His second season in Toronto he secured his first 20-goal season and finished the year with 61 points in 81 games.
After holding out in contract talks, Nylander came back and had one of his worst seasons as a Maple Leaf. But it seemed to turn his career on overdrive. From that point on he averaged just under a point per game over the next three seasons until 2022-23 when his 40-goal season streak started.
That season, he scored 40 goals and 87 points in 82 games. He followed that up with another 40 goals and 98 points in 82 games in 2023-24 and this season he already has 42 goals and 79 points through 73 games with the Maple Leafs. That’s a pace that would have him finish the season with 88 points in 82 games. Overall, he has 607 points in 676 career games with the Maple Leafs and he’s become one of their most consistent offensive players over the past few seasons.
So while Nylander continues to do what he’s being paid to do, it may be time to accept the nonchalance as a reality of what makes him as successful as he’s been, especially having set a new career-high in goals in year one of a new eight-year deal.
