Maybe William Nylander Can Be William Nylander Again
Even though it was a loss, a few Toronto Maple Leafs players had something to feel good about after last night’s 3-2 game against Montreal, and William Nylander was the obvious one. Two goals will do that.
But this felt like more than just putting two pucks in the net. Nylander looked like Nylander again. His game showed more jump. His skating grew more confident, and, most noticeably, he played with freedom. He was making things happen rather than waiting for them to happen. That was good to see.
Last season, Nylander took his lumps from the Maple Leafs coaching staff.
Nylander has taken his share of criticism in Toronto, and some of it has been deserved. He is an unconventional player. He can frustrate you. Sometimes he seems to be on a different wavelength than everyone else on the ice. But that is also what makes him so valuable.
Last season, when the Maple Leafs were struggling through a difficult year, Nylander was one of the few players who consistently looked capable of creating something. He finished with 30 goals and 49 assists in 65 games, but at times he seemed to be dragging Jacob Marley’s chain behind him.
During the intermissions last night, Elliotte Friedman discussed Nylander's relationship with the coaching staff last season and suggested there had been friction. Anyone who watches the Maple Leafs regularly could see times when Nylander and the bench didn’t appear to be on the same page.
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Maple Leafs fans have to hope that Nylander chapter is over.
That doesn't mean the previous coaching staff was responsible for Nylander's struggles, and it doesn't mean everything will suddenly be perfect under Jim Hiller. But there was something refreshing about watching Nylander last night without getting caught up in all that history.
He just played. He scored his first goal just 48 seconds into the game, and it was a beauty. He scored his second late in the third period, giving him his 43rd career multi-goal game. More importantly, he looked engaged.
And perhaps that's the little Maple Leafs story worth carrying forward from this game. Toronto needs its best players to feel like they can play their games. Nylander doesn't need to become somebody else to lead this team.
The Maple Leafs look to have some solid talent; let’s hope we can see it this season.
He needs to be William Nylander. That’s also true of the team's other elite players. Last night, for a while anyway, he looked very comfortable being exactly that.