William Nylander has endured a difficult stretch with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and it has become increasingly noticeable. He has been held pointless in his last three games and simply doesn’t look like himself. Careless turnovers, inconsistent effort, and a lack of urgency have replaced the pace and confidence that defined his strong start to the season.
On paper, Nylander’s numbers are respectable. Through 31 games, he has 11 goals and 25 assists for 36 points, along with a minus-2 rating. For most players, that production would be praised. However, given Nylander’s role, expectations, and nearly $12 million cap hit, the eye test suggests his recent play has not been good enough.