How Maple Leafs' William Nylander mastered the art of the breakaway

Every game now he gets at least one, and oftentimes more.

William Nylander has become the NHL s breakaway king.

Nylanders last three goals Nos.

26, 27, and 28 on the year have come off breakaways.

His 24th goal of the season? Also a breakaway marker versus Carolina .

In all, six of Nylanders 28 goals this season have come off breakaways, with 13 total coming off the rush, according to Sportlogiq.

Advertisement Honestly, that seems like thats just who he is now, linemate Bobby McMann said of Nylanders ability to generate and convert on breakaways.

In McManns estimation, a lot went into that.

For one thing, reps.

Nylander has mastered the art of the breakaway simply from repetition over his 10 seasons in the NHL.

The reads, the anticipation, the highest probability or percentage spot to be on the ice to get a chance Nylander has got it all down now, McMann said.

So if a puck goes loose, hes in a position to get there, and then obviously he has the speed to do it, said McMann.

So its like he puts himself in an advantageous spot and then once the puck pops loose he has a chance to beat a guy one-on-one or beat them in that race to that puck because he puts himself in those positions.

The moment, for instance, Nylander sees that Nikita Kucherov might not win control of the puck in the Leafs zone, he takes off.

Breakaway Styles pic.twitter.com/bMPX8UCE0z Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 21, 2025 Hes really good at cheating for offence, said Auston Matthews .

I mean that in the best way possible.

He reads the plays and hes obviously very fast.

Indeed, Nylander has registered nearly 400 bursts of 29-32 kilometres an hour this season, which ranks in the NHLs 91st percentile.

Hes so good with his feet and his stick that these pucks that come out there, he gets his stick or his feet on them and can make a play off them and then he beats the D, said Leafs coach Craig Berube.

Hes such a strong person and skater, he cuts in and gets behind them and gets opportunities.

Its all reading the play, McMann added.

And while the puck may not, and will not, come Nylanders way every time he leaks out in anticipation of a puck, theres also so many times where the puck does squirt out and hes in the perfect spot to go get it.

Advertisement Nylander doesnt just get breakaways though.

He converts on those opportunities confidently.

Its definitely not that easy, McMann said of cashing in on breakaway chances.

Especially if youre thinking too much about where to shoot.

Nylander will read the goalie his opponent and react.

I think when you come in with too much of a plan, oftentimes youre not gonna score, McMann said.

I think thats what happens with guys who maybe dont get as many breakaways.

Its like, Oh my God, its a breakaway, what should I do here? versus him, its like, Oh its just another breakaway, Ill just put this in the net.

McMann was still regretting one such chance he missed against Tampa earlier this week.

He got the look he wanted and immediately thought back to and tried to act on the scouting report on Lightning goalie Jonas Johansson .

For mere NHL mortals like McMann, every breakaway feels precious.

Not so for Nylander, who seems to pop out for at least one and sometimes more every game.

That ease of pressure allows you to perform better, McMann said.

Because you scored on the last one, you have no pressure to score on this one.

Youre like, Ill just shoot this and hopefully it goes in.

And it does go in because you have no pressure.

Another important element, according to Nick Robertson, is Nylanders versatility as a scorer on breakaways.

Its not one move and one move alone.

He can deke, he can shoot, Robertson said, so as a goaltender, I would assume, if hes coming down on them its pretty challenging to read what hes doing.

Its at least notable now that for a while early this season, as the Leafs were adapting to the rhythms of their new head coach, Nylander generated almost no breakaways.

It took until Nov.

24, on his 14th goal, to finally cash in.

Advertisement Hes scored five more since, the bulk of them this month, while the Leafs as a whole are suddenly generating more off the rush.

I feel like those things, they just happen all the time for a little bit and then they fade away and then they come back, Nylander said earlier this season.

His teammates have become used to it now.

The breakaway from the breakaway king.

They see it in practice, where Nylander will even work on such things launching a puck into the air and then chasing it down.

Hell just zing one by the goalies shoulder, McMann said.

Were just used to it, I guess.

But thats not to take away from the worldly talent that he is.

(Photo: David Kirouac / Imagn Images).

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