TORONTO – After another 40-goal season for the third year in a row, William Nylander has been able to cement himself as one of the NHL’s elite offensive forwards.
Nylander, who is currently second in goal scoring this season, has been able to record 77 points in 71 games, and with 11 left to be played, he will only be able to add to his total.
“Just trying to do what I’m paid to do, that’s it,” Nylander said when asked about eclipsing the 40-goal mark for the third straight year.
Even in a high-offensive league, only two players have been able to score 40-plus goals in each of the last three seasons, those being Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, and you guessed it, Nylander.
Nylander hit the mark this Tuesday, where he recorded two goals and two assists in a blowout win against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Especially in a season where Auston Matthews has not been consistently healthy, Nylander has been able to step up and carry the weight that has been distributed to him, being a key source for the Leafs offensive production.
“He’s got great ability, we all know that. Great shot, he does a lot of good things, he’s very talented,” Leafs head coach Craig Berube said after a 4-point night against the Flyers.
Philadelphia Flyers Goalie Brian Elliott #37, William Nylander #88 of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Shayne Gostisbehere #53 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Although Nylander is viewed as one of the league’s top offensive threats, it wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows for the Swedish international.
Early in his career, Nylander would be able to produce offensively, but nowhere near the level he is at now, starting his career with two 61-point seasons in his first two years, eclipsing around the 20-goal mark.
Nylander’s talent had always been on display, and for a young player learning the game in the NHL, he was able to forecast star power in the future, but signs of inconsistencies would be a major point of conversation.
In the 2018-19 season, Nylander had only played the last 54 games due to an unresolved contract negotiation that spilled into the year.
Nylander, who had held out to eventually sign a six-year $6.9 million deal, only recorded 7 goals for 27 points, looking like the player of the past that showed so much potential had vanished into thin air.
Nylander would answer in 2019-20, scoring 31 goals, and could have added to that total, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was cut short to only 68 games.
Even with Nylander’s play improving each year since his contract extension, the high cap hit of $6.9 million and the lingering inconsistencies would have many fans saying, “He’s lazy” or “he doesn’t care enough” in regards to his game and “he’s overpaid” when talking about his contract.
Even with the city of Toronto calling for his head, Nylander showed up in the 2020-21 playoffs, where he recorded five goals and eight points in seven games, ultimately losing in the first round but being one of the only Leafs players to show up in that series.
After this, Nylander would only move up in the NHL rankings, not looking back.
In his next three seasons, Nylander would finish with 80-plus points, all being over a 30-goal scorer, with the last two of those years hitting the 40-goal mark.
Last year, Nylander had his current best season in the NHL, finishing with 98 points in 82 games, earning an eight-year extension worth $11.5 million, making him a lifelong Maple Leaf, flipping the script of the fans’ interpretations on his early days in the league.
Adding to his regular-season success, Nylander is now looked at as a bright spot come playoff time, even with the team struggling to find a way to get out of the first round. 
Nylander recorded all three goals in the last two games of the series against the Boston Bruins last year, looking to continue his scoring ways into this year’s playoffs.
After another positive season that can only improve with 11 games left, the sky is the limit for number 88 in the Blue-and-White.
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