William Nylander Scouting Reports

Has signed his extension to remain in Toronto and earned the raise after betting on his own value and results. Arguably the Leafs most valuable player the first half of 23/24
At time of signing extension - average TOI 20:15 - 16:08 ES - 3:27 PP - 0:38 PK
Elite skater. Outstanding edges. Doesn't break stride entering offensive zone with puck on his stick A threat off the rush. Wins the majority of races to pucks that spill into open ice. Picks opponents apart on the perimeter. Hard to check. Has room to improve taking pucks to interior even more often. Has scored in all situations - including 2 SHG and 1 SHA
Pure offense but much more engaged, overall, in all three zones than he has been in the past.
Offense is the element that will always win out with his game. Only needs to be average defensively. Continue to monitor impact when games get very hard in April and May.

Play driver who continues to provide consistent impact offensively.
Elite skater. Fantastic edges. Powerful in open ice. Threat off the rush. Wins the majority of his races to pucks that spill to open space.
Leafs leading scorer. Their most consistent offensive threat over the first quarter of the season.
Dances around the perimeter. Hard to check. More interior game still required at times.
Provides very little physical push back. Motion player in all three zones. Average defensively. Offense wins out. Averages 20:33 TOI - 16:16 ES - 3:34 PP - 0:42 PK - 92 shots on goal in his first 21GP. Monitor his impact versus heavy checking teams like the Boston Bruins.

After a brief audition at center, Nylander has returned to playing the wing.
Dynamic off the rush. Elite skill. Play driver. One of the top skaters in the entire NHL.
Averages 19:43 TOI - 15:42 ES - 3:24 PP - 0:36 PK
77 SOG in 17GP
12G-15A (+2)
Not a ton of bump to his game. A motion player. Only credited with 10 hits / 4 shot blocks.
Pure offense. His defensive detail will range. But he's taking over shifts / games offensively.
Competing at a much more reliable level. Contract year. In line for huge pay raise.

Elite talent who can be polarizing at times
Fantastic skater who has the pace to take over shifts with the puck on his stick
Off the puck detail and effort pressing back ranges
Auditioning at Center to begin (23/24). Originally drafted as a centreman.
Exceptionally dangerous in transition - pouncing on loose pucks in the neutral zone - and making plays on the power-play - Pure offense
Free Agent Summer of 2024

AVG TOI (18:20) Used at ES and on the PP
Easily identified. Offense is his element. Quick. Fast. Creative. Dangerous off the rush.
High end impact on the PP.
His off the puck detail and push back in the hard areas leaves much to be desired. Historically he has shown he can play with better detail but he lacks consistency at this time.
Elite skill.

Pure offense.
Potential to be an elite player but he frustrates with his lack of detail defensively. A threat to produce offense almost every time he touches the puck
Open ice speed makes him difficult to defend off the rush. A specialist on the power play.
Not a ton of push back physically
Unfortunate reality is he scores as much as he is scored against when he is on the ice