What Kind of Player Is Maple Leafs William Nylander, Really?

One of the big questions facing the Toronto Maple Leafs this season is whether Auston Matthews and William Nylander should play on the same line now that Mitch Marner has been traded.

Really, the answer to the question falls on a second question.

And that is what kind of a player is Nylander really? The logic of the answer to this question seems simple.

If both players are shoot-first and pass-second players, why stack two natural goal scorers on the same line instead of spreading the offense around? Lets examine the numbers.

Do the Numbers Answer the Question of the Maple Leafs First Line? At first glance, the numbers appear convincing that the two scorers should be separated.

Matthews has led the Maple Leafs with 142 goals over the past two seasons, with Nylander close behind at 125.

But is that proof enough? Perhaps not.

Nylanders career totals support the argument that hes as much a distributor as a scorer .

Hes recorded 612 points: 262 goals (43%) and 350 assists (57%).

In the playoffs, the split is nearly identical32 goals (45%) and 39 assists (55%) in 67 games.

Despite his highlight-reel goals, Nylanders broader body of work shows hes just as much a setup man.

Even last years career-high 45 goals came with a twist.

His shot rate actually dropped to 9.49 per 60 minutes, well below the 11.2 he averaged from 202123.

The difference was efficiency: his shooting percentage spiked to 17.8%, far above his career norms.

In other words, he wasnt shooting more oftenhe was finishing better.

How Nylander Differs From Matthews Contrast Nylanders numbers with those of Matthews, who is the definition of a shoot-first player.

Hes piled up 401 goals against 326 assists in his career, with a consistently higher shot volumeover 12 per 60 minutes.

Matthews generates more shots and scores a greater share of his points by finding the back of the net.

Nylander, by comparison, blends scoring with playmaking.

Hes a dual threat, capable of creating offense in multiple ways.

The Bottom Line: Could Nylander and Matthews Play on the Same Line? So, what kind of player is William Nylander , really? Not the pure shooter many think.

Hes a balanced offensive driverequally dangerous as a passer and a scorer.

Thats what makes him so valuable.

If Matthews and Nylander do end up together, it may not be the redundancy we feared.

Instead, it could be the perfect mix: one of hockeys deadliest shooters alongside one of its most underrated dual threats..

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