Toronto Maple Leafs: William Nylander Going to the Worlds
By Omar L
With Mitch Marner already named to Team Canada, William Nylander becomes the second Toronto Maple Leafs player to go to this year’s IIHF World Hockey Championships.
After William Nylander made his NHL debut in February of 2016, he was given a nickname. Leafs nation dubbed the young forward “Willy Ny The Hockey Guy”, because of his elite skill and wicked shot.
As of May 5 2017, Nylander will need a little alteration to that nickname. Willy Ny The World Hockey Guy will be much more appropriate going forward.
Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston tweeted early Monday that Nylander will be playing for Sweden at this year’s IIHF World Hockey Championships.
William Nylander will play for Sweden at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 1, 2017
What a way to build off a strong rookie season. The Swedish rookie had his fair share of juggling, going from the Auston Matthews line, to the Nazem Kadri line, and even the fourth line.
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However, he slowly improved as the season continued, finishing with 22 goals and 61 points in 81 games. Not to mention breaking two rookie records, in longest point streak (12 games) and most power play points (26).
The last time Nylander played for his home country didn’t end too well. If you want to remember (or forget), he was named to Team Sweden at the 2016 World Jr’s.
Unfortunately, Nylander’s time with the team was cut short, as he sustained a concussion after a huge hit from Chris Egli in Game 1 of the tournament:
Fingers crossed that nothing like that happens again. With teammate Mitch Marner named to Team Canada, this makes two Leafs representatives at the tournament.
And just like Marner, Nylander’s decision to participate is nothing but good. Not to mention he’ll be on the same team with almost future teammate Calle Rosen. If Leafs fans didn’t already have a good enough reason to watch the World’s, this is definitely another one.