William Nylander

William Nylander
Nylander with the Maple Leafs in 2017
Born (1996-05-01) 1 May 1996
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Toronto Maple Leafs
Modo Hockey
National team  Sweden
NHL Draft 8th overall, 2014
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 2013–present

William Andrew Michael Junior Nylander Altelius (born 1 May 1996) is a Canadian-born Swedish professional ice hockey player currently for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nylander was selected by the Maple Leafs in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

On 14 February 2013, Nylander made his Allsvenskan debut. Playing alongside his father Michael Nylander with Södertälje SK, he earned an assist in his first professional game on a goal by Robert Carlsson.[1] Nylander closed out his 2013-14 season with a successful 22 game rookie stint in the SHL where he would play as many as 20 minutes a night.[2] Ranked as a top prospect in the 2014 draft, he was selected 8th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs.[3][4] Nylander was highly praised for his offensive talent and puck moving abilities; however, criticisms were drawn to his defensive game and then-small stature, measuring 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall, and weighing 169 pounds (77 kg; 12 st 1 lb) at the draft combine.[5]

Toronto Maple Leafs

After being drafted 8th overall, the Leafs announced they had signed Nylander to a three-year entry-level contract (ELC) on 18 August 2014.[6]

Nylander with the Toronto Marlies during the 2016 AHL-All Star Skills Competition.

Nylander impressed early, scoring a pre-season goal against the Philadelphia Flyers. Later, at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, Nylander finished 5th in tournament scoring, the highest of any player not on Team Canada. Nylander was reassigned to the Toronto Marlies on 12 January 2015, in order to further his development.[7] Nylander experienced a sensational campaign despite joining the AHL squad mid–season, scoring 32 points in 37 games playing on the right–wing. He was vital in helping the Marlies, who were at the bottom of the standings prior to Nylander joining, reach the post–season. Although he left Modo Hockey after 21 games in the 2014–15 SHL season, Nylander was mentioned as a possible candidate for the SHL Rookie of the Year award.[8]

Nylander made his NHL debut on 29 February 2016 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the age of nineteen.[9] He scored his first goal on 5 March 2016 against Andrew Hammond of the Ottawa Senators. His first NHL goal was assisted by Brooks Laich, who also assisted William's father Michael on his last NHL goal.[10]

The next season, Nylander made the Maple Leafs roster full-time. He debuted alongside Zach Hyman and Auston Matthews on 12 October 2016 in the season opener against the Ottawa Senators. Nylander quickly found chemistry with his linemates, helping Matthews set an NHL record for most goals scored in a rookie's debut with four by assisting on two of the goals. On 1 November 2016, Nylander was named Rookie of the Month by NHL for the month of October.[11] He had recorded eleven points in nine games, which was good enough for second in league scoring and first among rookie players. After his hot start in October, Nylander struggled in November, scoring only 5 points in 13 games.[12] He had a nine-game goalless stretch between 27 October and 15 November.[13] Nylander recovered, scoring twice in three games, but then went on another scoreless stretch, not hitting the twine between 22 November and 22 December, a span of 13 games.[14] Nylander scored in back to back games to end the drought. Nylander scored his first NHL career hat trick on 4 February 2017 against the Boston Bruins.[15] Nylander's 61 points helped the Leafs qualify for the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, where they were eliminated in 6 games by the Washington Capitals.[16]

During the 2017–18 season, Nylander was again placed on the top line with Matthews and Hyman.[17] Early in the season, Nylander went on an 11 game scoring drought, which ended in an overtime goal against the New Jersey Devils.[18] By scoring that goal, Nylander became only the second Leaf in franchise history, the first being Miroslav Frycer, to score the only goal of a regular-season game in overtime.[18] He ended the regular season recording 61 points, the same as his rookie season. The Leafs again qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs where they were eliminated in Round 1 by the Boston Bruins.

International play

Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Ice hockey
World Championships
2017 Germany/France

Despite being born in Canada, on 12 November 2012, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) ruled that Nylander was eligible to represent Sweden in international play.[19] He went on to compete with Team Sweden at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge where he scored a tournament high eight assists,[20] leading his team to a gold medal win. In the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, Nylander was the standout player of the tournament, winning the scoring race with 16 points in 7 games.

Nylander made his senior team debut at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, where team Sweden won gold. He led his team in scoring with 14 points in 10 games and was named tournament MVP.[21]

Personal life

William was born in Calgary while his father, Michael Nylander, played for the Calgary Flames. He spent the majority of his youth in the United States where his father played for a multitude of National Hockey League teams, spending the summers in Sweden.[22][23] His family later moved to Sweden when he was 14.

His younger brother is Buffalo Sabres prospect Alexander Nylander, who was selected 8th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2010–11 Chicago Mission U16 MWEHL 29 34 27 61 8 — — — — —
2011–12 Södertälje SK J20 8 1 3 4 2 4 0 5 5 2
2012–13 Södertälje SK Allsv 8 4 2 6 2 10 2 1 3 4
2012–13 Södertälje SK J20 27 15 28 43 14 5 3 5 8 2
2013–14 Modo Hockey SHL 22 1 6 7 6 2 0 0 0 0
2013–14 Rögle BK Allsv 18 4 4 8 10 — — — — —
2013–14 Södertälje SK Allsv 17 11 8 19 6 — — — — —
2014–15 Modo Hockey SHL 21 8 12 20 6 — — — — —
2014–15 Toronto Marlies AHL 37 14 18 32 4 5 0 3 3 0
2015–16 Toronto Marlies AHL 38 18 27 45 10 14 7 4 11 2
2015–16 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 22 6 7 13 4 — — — — —
2016–17 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 81 22 39 61 32 6 1 3 4 2
2017–18 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 82 20 41 61 10 7 1 3 4 0
NHL totals 185 48 87 135 46 13 2 6 8 2

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2013 Sweden WHC17 1st, gold medalist(s) 6 2 8 10 2
2013 Sweden WJC18 5th 5 2 1 3 2
2013 Sweden IH18 7th 4 4 2 6 4
2014 Sweden WJC18 4th 7 6 10 16 0
2015 Sweden WJC 4th 7 3 7 10 0
2016 Sweden WJC 4th 1 1 0 1 0
2017 Sweden WC 1st, gold medalist(s) 10 7 7 14 2
Junior totals 23 15 21 36 8
Senior totals 10 7 7 14 2

Awards and honours

Awards Year
J20 SuperElit most points by U-18 junior (43) 2012–13 [24]
World U-17 Hockey Challenge gold medal with Team Sweden 2013 [25]
AHL All-Star Classic 2016 [26]
Rookie of the Month October 2016 March 2017 [11]
IIHF World Championship MVP 2017 [27]

References

  1. ↑ "Former NHLer Michael Nylander and son William team up in Sweden". Sports Illustrated. 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
  2. ↑ "FIs Mitch Marner or William Nylander the Leafs' best prospect?". Pension Plan Puppets. 2015-06-05. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  3. ↑ "Maple Leafs Select William Nylander". Toronto Maple Leafs. 2014-06-27. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  4. ↑ "Kasperi Kapanen, William Nylander headline 2014 NHL Central Scouting European rankings". National Hockey League. 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  5. ↑ "Nylander, William". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  6. ↑ Canadian, Press (2014-08-18). "Leafs sign eighth overall pick William Nylander to entry-level contract". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  7. ↑ Arthur, Bruce (2015-01-12). "Maple Leafs give William Nylander room to grow: Arthur". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  8. ↑ "Djupdyk i statistiken för kandidaterna till Årets Rookie". Swedish Hockey League. 2015-03-04.
  9. ↑ Brophy, Mike (29 February 2016). "Johnson leads Lightning to seventh straight win". NHL.com. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "Nylander gets first NHL goal for Maple Leafs". NHL.com. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  11. 1 2 "William Nylander named NHL's top rookie in October". NHL.com. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  12. ↑ "William Nylander Stats and News".
  13. ↑ "William Nylander Stats and News".
  14. ↑ Johnston, Chris (16 November 2017). "Relief finally comes as Nylander ends scoring drought". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 27 April 2018. Nylander finished his rookie season with 22 goals despite enduring stretches of nine and 13 games without one before December.
  15. ↑ "Nylander's hat trick helps Maple Leafs outlast Bruins - Article - TSN". TSN. 2017-02-04. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  16. ↑ Siegel, Jonas (24 April 2018). "Capitals end Leafs' playoff run in Game 6". cbc.ca. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  17. ↑ Loung, Steven (6 February 2018). "Nylander on Leafs' top line: 'We complement each other really well'". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  18. 1 2 Shilton, Kristen (17 November 2017). "Nylander scores in OT, Andersen posts SO as Leafs win 5th straight". tsn.ca. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  19. ↑ "OK to play for Sweden". International Ice Hockey Federation. 2010-02-03. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  20. ↑ "U17 WHC Most Assists". Elite Prospects.com. 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
  21. ↑ "William Nylander wins MVP after leading Sweden to gold at World Championship". Retrieved 2017-05-22.
  22. ↑ "Steelheads select Nylander and Haudum in 2014 CHL Import Draft".
  23. ↑ "Canadian-born Nylander honing his craft over in Sweden". Hockey's Future.
  24. ↑ "J20 SuperElit (Overall) Most Points by U18 Junior". Elite Prospects.com. 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
  25. ↑ "Lindblom's Hat Trick leads Sweden to Gold medal game". The World Of Junior Hockey. 2013-07-08. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
  26. ↑ "Playing Rosters Announced for 2016 Toyota American Hockey League All-Star Classic". Toronto Marlies. 2016-01-07. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  27. ↑ "Toronto Maple Leafs William Nylander Wins MVP @Worlds". Editor in Leaf. 22 May 2017.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Frédérik Gauthier		 Toronto Maple Leafs first round draft pick
2014		 Succeeded by
Mitchell Marner
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