William Nylander is a Swedish ice hockey player who plays professionally for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). William Nylander comes from an ice hockey family. His father, Michael Nylander, played professionally for 27 years. William Nylander’s brother Alex Nylander plays in the NHL as well.
Here Are Some Interesting Tidbits About William Nylander
William Nylander started playing professionally in Sweden
William Nylander joined the youth teams of Sodertalje SK in 2011. Two years later, he debuted in the Allsvenskan, the second national tier with the first team. He was selected in the second round, in the sixtieth position by Avangard Omsk in the 2013 KHL Entry Draft. He discovered the SHL with MODO Hockey during the 2013-2014 season.
William Nylander was drafted into the NHL in 2014
In the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, he was chosen in the first round, eighth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played his first game in the National Hockey League on February 2, 2016, with the Maple Leafs against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He scored his first goal in the NHL on
March 5, 2016, against the Ottawa Senators.
William Nylander signed a massive new contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs
On January 8, 2024, Nylander agreed with the Leafs on an eight-year, $92 million contract extension. This agreement, with an average annual value of $11.5 million, is the most lucrative in Leafs’ history in terms of total value. This is the largest contract in Toronto team history in terms of total value, and it includes a no-movement clause.
Rumor of the deal had been circulating for a long time, so Nylander’s teammates had fun at his expense, telling him “You’re welcome” after he had assists on his two goals against the San Jose Sharks.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and William Nylander continued to approach an agreement for an extension that would make the Swede one of the highest paid players in the NHL.
The NHL media closely followed William Nylander’s extension. Even when negotiations were underway, it was reported that it was not done yet and both parties didn’t want to confirm anything yet, but they are trying to finalize everything. It was believed that this was in line with a maximum agreement of eight years at more than 11 million dollars per year.
William Nylander is having a stellar 2023-2024 season
The prolific Leafs player had his best career season in 2022-23, collecting 40 goals and 87 points in 82 games.
The 27-year-old forward is on fire this season, having scored 51 points in just 36 games since the start of the campaign. If Nylander continues at this pace, he wwillget his best career totals in goals and points.
While Mitch Marner is getting all the attention with his irresistible streak, other Toronto Maple Leafs players are also standing out. This is the case for William Nylander, who had his first career five-point game on Saturday night.
Nylander scored two goals and added three assists in a 5-4 victory against the Calgary Flames in metropolitan Ontario. In particular, he was an accomplice in Marner’s victorious goal in overtime.
With seven points in his last two outings, Nylander has accumulated 17 goals and 33 points in 29 games this season. And despite this particularly productive push, he was a constant force throughout the season within the team, under head coach Sheldon Keefe.
“He was consistent,” the coach said, according to media reports. He produces at a high rate. I think Willie can and should be among the elite players in the league. He’s making his way in that direction.”
With Marner’s 22 straight games with at least one point, Nylander’s success, and the constant threat posed by Auston Matthews, the Leafs have not lost in their last 14 games (11-0-3). They are two games away from the franchise record set in 2003.
William Nylander’s new contract makes him one of the richest hockey players today
Currently, nine players are projected to have a cap hit of $11 million or more next season. Among them are Leafs star Auston Matthews, who will lead the league once his $13.25 million-per-season extension kicks in, and Leafs captain John Tavares. Another Toronto player, Mitch Marner, holds a salary of just over $10.9 million, which is projected to rank 10th in the NHL next season. The Maple Leafs were the only NHL team to have two players in the top 10 of the highest earners of the NHL.
William Nylander’s skating ability is his biggest strength
Nylander’s reputation has never been perfect, particularly due to his decision to strike in 2018, desperate to avoid the bridge contract for a long-term contract. He won his case just before the December 1 deadline, obtaining six years and $45 million.
Then he had a very slow start to the season upon his return. He was limited to seven goals and 27 points in 54 games, regularly being the target of criticism. But since this incredible season, he has totaled 99 goals and 214 points in 229 games, proving a little more every day that he is an impact player and that he deserved his contract.
Asked what his success was based on, Nylander was very clear: it is his skating that is his strength.
“I’m just focusing on skating,” William Nylander said. This is the most important thing for me and it helps me create space and have chances. You just want to do better than the year before, always striving to improve. Whatever [my final points total] is, I’m not too worried about it right now.”