On 14 February 2013, Nylander made his HockeyAllsvenskan 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.[2] Nylander closed out his 2013–14 season with a successful 22-game rookie stint in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), where he would play as many as 20 minutes per night.[3] Ranked as a top prospect in the 2014 NHL entry draft, he was ultimately selected eighth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs.[4][5] 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 5feet 9inches (175cm) tall and weighing 169 pounds (77kg; 12st 1lb) at the draft combine.[6]
After being drafted eighth overall, on 18 August 2014, Nylander was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Maple Leafs.[7] Nylander began the season playing with MoDo Hockey of the SHL, tallying eight goals and 12 assists in 21 games, but on 12 January 2015, he was reassigned to the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, to further his development.[8] 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 2015 Calder Cup playoffs. 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.[9]
Nylander during the 2016 AHL All-Star skills competition
Nylander made his NHL debut on 29 February 2016, against the Tampa Bay Lightning at age 19.[10] 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.[11]
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, Nylander was named Rookie of the Month by the NHL for October.[12] He had recorded 11 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 five points in 13 games.[13] 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 between 22 November and 22 December, a span of 13 games.[14] Nylander scored in back-to-back games to end the drought. He scored his first NHL career hat-trick on 4 February 2017, against the Boston Bruins.[15] Nylander's 61 points helped the Maple Leafs qualify for the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, where they were eliminated in six 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 player in franchise history (the first being Miroslav Fryčer) 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 Maple Leafs once again qualified for the playoffs, where they were eliminated in seven games of the first round by the Boston Bruins.[19] He recorded one goal and three assists during those seven games.
Nylander became a restricted free agent during the off-season. He went unsigned throughout the summer, seeking a long-term extension as opposed to a "bridge deal".[20] Nylander did not attend the team's training camp.[21] The Maple Leafs began the season without Nylander, as the two sides could not come to an agreement beforehand. As a restricted free agent, Nylander needed to sign before 1 December to be eligible to play during the 2018–19 season.[22] While away from the team, Nylander skated in Sweden and Austria. It was reported that he lost $30,000 in pay each day he remained unsigned.[23][24] It was later reported on 10 November, that the Maple Leafs were fielding offers for Nylander, just weeks before the 1 December deadline.[25] Just minutes before the deadline, Nylander agreed to a six-year, $45million contract.[26] Nylander was a healthy scratch for his first game back with the team, but made his season debut on 6 December, against the Detroit Red Wings.[27] He would struggle for the remainder of that season, amassing 27 points in 54 games.[28]
Nylander's play markedly improved the following season, especially following the Maple Leafs' decision to replace Mike Babcock as head coach with Sheldon Keefe. When the NHL was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nylander had already set a career-high with 31 goals in 68 games, to go along with 28 assists.[28]
During the COVID-shortened 2020-2021 NHL season, Nylander would continue to be a strong contributor for the Leafs in the regular season as he finished with 42 points in 51 games. He also led the team in goals and points during the playoffs, including a 4-game goal streak in the first round against the Montreal Canadiens. His team however, was eliminated in 7 games after leading the series 3-1.
Over the next three seasons, Nylander elevated his play to an elite level, setting new career highs in each campaign and establishing himself as one of the league’s top forwards. He finished with his first 80 point season in the 2021-2022 NHL season when he scored 34 goals and 46 assists. The following year, he eclipsed his goal and point totals again with his first 40-goal campaign along with 87 points. In the 2023–24 season, Nylander scored 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in the team's first seventeen games, setting a new franchise record for longest point streak to start a season.[29] During that streak, the Maple Leafs played two games in the 2023 NHL Global Series Sweden in his hometown of Stockholm. He scored one goal and two assists in a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings in the first game. The next game, Nylander scored the overtime winner and added an assist in a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. "It's pretty special to get the OT winner here," he said of the win.[30]
On 8 January 2024, after months of speculation, Nylander signed an eight-year, $92 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs.[31] It was the largest contract in Maple Leafs history in terms of total value.[32] He was later named to his first All-Star Game after leading all skaters in fan voting for the 2024 NHL All-Star Game.[33][34] Nylander would finish the season with his second straight 40-goal campaign and career highs of 58 assists and 98 points. In that year's playoffs, the Leafs were matched up with the Boston Bruins in the first round. However, Nylander was unexpectedly sidelined for the first three games of the series due to migraines so severe that team doctors had to test to verify he was not concussed.[35] He was eventually cleared to play, returning in Game 4, and later scored both goals in Game 6 to secure a 2–1 victory. In the deciding Game 7, he would score the game's opening goal in the third period, but the Bruins would tie shortly afterwards and won the game in overtime.
In the following 2024–25 season, Nylander would set a new career high with 45 goals, finishing second in the entire league, along with 84 points. He scored his second career NHL hat-trick on February 4, 2025 against the Calgary Flames, eight years to the day after he scored his first hat-trick against the Boston Bruins.[36] He led the team again in playoff goals and points, but the Leafs were eliminated in the second round that year by the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers. That summer, he was named the winner of Guldpucken, awarded annually to the top Swedish ice hockey player, his first time receiving the honour.[37]
Nylander made his senior team debut at the 2017 World Championship, where Sweden senior team won gold. He led his team in scoring with 14 points in 10 games and was named tournament MVP.[40]
Before the 2024-25 NHL season, Nylander was announced as one of the first six players to play for Team Sweden at the 4-Nations Face-Off, and was subsequently named as one of the alternate captains of the team.[41] He would finish the tournament with 2 assists.
In the 2025 off-season, Nylander was announced as one of the first six players of Team Sweden that will compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics for Team Sweden.
Personal life
Nylander was born in Calgary while his father, Michael, was playing for the Calgary Flames. He is a dual citizen of Sweden and Canada.[38] He spent the majority of his youth in the United States where his father played for several NHL teams, spending the summers in Sweden.[42][43] His family later moved to Sweden when he was 14.
Nylander's younger brother Alexander, who was selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL entry draft,[44] also plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs.[45] On 24 November 2024, they became the fifth set of brothers to play a game together in Toronto Maple Leafs history.[46]
↑ 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.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
Sweden 
