William Nylander Says He Wants to Stay With Maple Leafs
William Nylander said Toronto is home and made it plain he does not want to leave the Maple Leafs. In a new 10-minute YouTube video posted Monday, the winger reacted to the team’s NHL draft lottery win and repeated that his focus is on playing his best hockey in Toronto.
Nylander and Matthew Knies
He was sitting with teammate Matthew Knies at a Marlies playoff game when the Maple Leafs won the lottery. Nylander’s first reaction was blunt: “That’s insane.” He followed that with, “Are you (bleeped out) kidding me” and then, “Oh my god, that’s crazy, that’s insane. Wild.”
The video is the first on his channel since prior to the Olympics, and it came with a direct statement about where he sees himself fitting. Nylander said, “When I’m in Toronto, I’m fully focused on wanting to play the best hockey that I can.”
Mats Sundin in Toronto
He also spent part of the video on Mats Sundin, whom he called his countryman and new boss. “Mats coming in, he knows what it’s all about to play in Toronto,” Nylander said. “Being such a leader for this team, an amazing captain here, he will bring that to the table and help our club a lot.”
Nylander added, “Every time I see him, we talk,” and said, “I’m excited to see him in this kind of aspect, when he’s a big part of our organization and (will) help get us to where we want to be.”
Nylander’s Summer Plans
The offseason piece is the part that sharpens the message. Last summer, Nylander was injured and unable to train properly to prepare for the season. This time, he said he plans to go to France and Sweden in the summer and wants a longer break for better work before next season.
“For me it will be a really good thing to be able to get a longer summer for more complete training to be ready for next season,” he said. He also said, “It’s nice to get away and take your mind someplace else,” before adding, “At the same time, when you come (back to Toronto), you are guns ablazing, ready to go for the season.”
Nylander said he went to Montreal for Formula One’s Canadian Grand Prix last weekend and has been watching the playoffs at home, even though he usually never watches hockey when he is there. “Just itching to get back out there,” he said. “One week after the season, I was like, this is terrible. I want to be out there playing.”
For Maple Leafs fans, the value is the directness. Nylander did not hedge around Toronto; he called it home, tied his own offseason plans to a better ramp into next season, and framed Sundin’s role as another reason the organization feels like the right place for him right now.
