NHL Trades and Rumors
Insider: Last Year Was “Really Tough” for William Nylander and Maple Leafs
William Nylander had a particularly tough 2025-26 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Nothing went according to plan for William Nylander and the Toronto Maple Leafs on the ice last season, and that came with a fair share of issues off it as well.
From Anthony Stolarz’s early-season callout, to recurring injury issues, to giving the TSN camera the middle finger while up in the press box, it wasn’t always pretty for the superstar winger.
Combine that with missing the playoffs for the first time since his rookie season, and according to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, it was a really tough year that took a toll on Nylander and the organization in particular.
“I think one of the more fascinating ones too is going to be Nylander. I think last year was a really tough year between Nylander and the organization. But everybody gets a fresh start, everybody gets something new. I think Nylander is going to be pretty important too,”
The 30-year-old Nylander has six years remaining on the eight-year, $92 million contract extension he signed with the Maple Leafs in 2024. He racked up 79 points (30 goals, 49 assists) in only 65 games played last season.
Nylander is a polarizing player and always has been, so his flaws can be especially magnified when things aren’t going well for the team. That was certainly the case in 2025-26, which at times raised questions about his future in Toronto. Nonetheless, he has continued to make it clear that he’s not going anywhere.
Management kept its faith in Nylander and Auston Matthews by aggressively retooling the roster around them this summer in hopes of a quick return to contention. Now it’s on them to lead by example and produce at the level expected to get the Maple Leafs back on track moving forward.
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