Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube made headlines Monday when he publicly challenged William Nylander, saying the team needed more from its star forward.
Nylander answered emphatically with his best performance of the young season, recording three points in Toronto’s 7-4 win against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. He had four scoring chances — one more than he had in his first three games combined — and four completed slot passes on seven attempts.
“That’s why I think (Nylander) does tremendously well in this market,” Maple Leafs forward John Tavares, who also had three points Tuesday, told reporters. “More than anyone, (he) will look himself in the mirror and knows that he can do more (and) play better.”
Not one for deep self-analysis with reporters, Nylander downplayed his sluggish start after the game.
“It’s coming along,” Nylander said. “It’s always slow at the beginning of the season.”
It certainly is odd to refer to a team-leading seven points in four games as a sluggish start, but the standards set by Nylander are incredibly high. He scored a career-best 45 goals last season and has reached the 80-point mark in each of the past four years. (It should be noted, though, that both of Nylander’s goals and three of his seven points have come during empty-net situations.)
Part of Berube’s issue with Nylander after three games was that he was not getting to the inside of the ice enough. Nylander finished 10th in the NHL last season with 381 slot-driving plays, or 4.65 per game. But Nylander had just 11 slot-driving plays, which include carries and passes to the slot, before Tuesday (3.67 per game). He had six such plays against the Predators, as well as six end-to-end rushes.
Toronto appears to have found a second-line combination that works, which could lead to consistent production from Nylander. He and Tavares started the first two games with Bobby McMann, but they only generated 35.9 per cent of the expected goals at even strength in nearly 20 minutes of ice time. On Monday, Berube swapped McMann with Matias Maccelli, and the early results have been encouraging. The revamped second line outscored the Predators 2-1 and out-chanced them 7-3 at even strength Tuesday.
“(Nylander) drove the line,” Berube told reporters following the Maple Leafs’ win against the Predators. “(He) did what he does. He had the puck. He was doing things. He's making good decisions, driving it deep and doing what he does in the offensive zone. I thought they were responsible defensively. I was happy with the line. I thought they were very impactful.”
The left-wing spot on Nylander and Tavares’ line has been in a constant state of flux. McMann, Max Pacioretty, Pontus Holmberg, Max Domi and Matthew Knies were among the forwards who spent ample time there last season alone. Perhaps Maccelli could be the answer.
“I put Maccelli there just for more puck touches,” Berube told reporters Monday. “(Nylander and Tavares are) not getting enough puck touches in the offensive zone. They’re not getting there enough, and when they do get there, it’s in and out, so (I’m looking for) a little more control with the puck.”
Berube has never been afraid of calling out his players. It clearly sparked Nylander, who on Tuesday looked like himself for the first time this season.
“I see his perspective where he’s coming from that maybe I don’t see,” Berube told reporters Tuesday morning about his talks with Nylander. “I’m not in his head. (We discuss) what he’s feeling and what I’m feeling and what I’m seeing, so I think they’re good conversations. It’s really good feedback for me. I just want him to hear me and what I think.”
All stats via Sportlogiq
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