Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
While William Nylander is a superstar, he does come with a bit of a unique approach to the game, and fans are going to need to start accepting his brand of hockey.
But that uniqueness certainly shows in his brand of hockey too, as he is undoubtedly one of the more exciting and talented scorers in the entire league, though is currently mired in a bit of a slump.
However, Nylander’s style of hockey has irked some who believe that he doesn’t necessarily give 100% effort all the time, and if he doesn’t end up getting good chances, he seems to slow down and play a bit more apathetically.
What you see is what you get: William Nylander’s unique brand of hockey
But it’s something both the team and its fans are going to have to get used to according to some analysts.
Speaking on TSN’s First Up program on Friday, Carlo Colaiacovo and Matthew Cauz discussed Nylander’s slump, with them acknowledging that what you see is exactly what you’re going to get when it comes to the Maple Leafs forward:
There has to be an acceptance that William Nylander is exactly who William Nylander is. You gotta take the good that he brings and the frustration he brings.
I am not saying he does bad things because he’s a bad hockey player. Everyone has bad moments. For Nylander it’s a frustration because when he’s at the top of his game, he’s on the same level as some of the top players in the game and is unstoppable at points.
But he needs to show that same effort and determination on defense.
You can’t deny that Nylander brings some of the most exciting yet frustrating styles of play. On any given night he can explode for multiple highlight reel-worthy goals, setting up teammates in style and looking like one of the world’s best.
Why Nylander’s game is equal parts entertaining and aggravating
But in that same vein, if there is a quick turnaround on defense, Nylander often finds himself a bit frustrated with a lack of offense, and takes his time coming back.
This was two seasons ago against Florida in the playoffs:
He was also responsible for arguably the worst goal Toronto has let up all season, after batting the puck into his own net on a high-stick:
It’s those types of mistakes combined with a lackadaisical effort heading back into his own end that has drawn the most criticism from fans:
It’s just a few of the reactions on social media, however you definitely have to look at things through a wider lens.
Nylander is part of the heart and soul of the team, and is locked into a long-term deal and is one of the faces of the franchise. While we can certainly fault him for his miscues, what he brings in a positive way outshines the negatives.
It’s just the propensity of the Toronto fans and sometimes the media to nitpick the smaller issues and potentially blow small things out of proportion.
But it stops everyone from seeing the reality of the situation. This is who William Nylander is: brash, yet talented and one of the NHL’s most unique players.
Let’s just enjoy that we have him in the first place, because he’s certainly putting in the work even if that comes with some minor annoyances.
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