3 Reasons Not to Worry About Maple Leafs William Nylander
If you’ve been following the Toronto Maple Leafs closely this December, it’s hard not to feel a little uneasy about William Nylander. The goals have dried up, the numbers look uncomfortable, and in this market, silence around a star player never lasts long. A slow month quickly turns into a storyline. But before we start rewriting narratives or assigning blame, it’s worth taking a breath. Slumps happen. And in Nylander’s case, there are still plenty of reasons not to panic.
Reason One: Nylander’s Production Is Still There—Even If the Goals Aren’t
Nylander hasn’t scored in 11 games, and yes, that jumps off the page. But it’s also an incomplete picture. He’s still creating offence, still touching the puck in dangerous areas, still picking up assists and putting shots on net. This isn’t a player floating on the perimeter or hiding from the game. The chances are coming. Often, that’s the hardest part. Finishing ebbs and flows in hockey, especially for players whose games rely on timing and precision. When those bounces turn—and they usually do—the numbers correct themselves in a hurry.
Reason Two: Nylander Is Wired Differently
Nylander has always carried himself with a certain inner ease. Pressure doesn’t seem to cling to him the way it does to others. Call it a Teflon calm, call it confidence, call it joy—whatever the label, it matters. Players like this don’t spiral easily. They don’t chase the game when it slips away for a few weeks. Even now, you don’t see panic in his play. That temperament doesn’t guarantee results, but it does make prolonged slumps less likely. He’s built to ride these stretches out.
Reason Three: We’ve Seen This Movie Before with Nylander
Nylander has gone quiet before. He’s also been one of the Maple Leafs’ most reliable big-moment players when things tighten up. The skill set hasn’t vanished, and neither has the trust the team places in him. His history against teams like Pittsburgh, his ability to elevate in familiar spots, and his comfort carrying offensive responsibility all point toward a reset rather than a breakdown. Good players don’t forget how to play. They recalibrate.
Final Thought About Nylander
December hasn’t been kind to William Nylander, and there’s no need to pretend otherwise. But context matters. The effort is there. The chances are there. The personality is steady. This feels far more like a pause than a problem. In a long season, the best players don’t avoid slumps—they survive them. Nylander has done that before, and there’s little reason to believe he won’t again.