William Nylander adjusting to life in the NHL

It’s been about three weeks since William Nylander was recalled from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies to play for the Maple Leafs. In the first week-and-a-half of his NHL career, he played fairly well, scoring two goals in six games. But playing on a makeshift roster of rookies unfamiliar with the big league, there wasn’t much time for getting his feet wet — he was thrown into the deep end.

Such a head-first dive into NHL action proved to be a challenge to the AHL star, as the forward went four games without a point and was visible frustrated by his struggles. Growing pains are hard to manage when you are making your NHL debut as the second-line center for a last-place team, especially when you are as highly-touted a prospect as Nylander.

While fellow Scandanavian and Marlies linemate Kasperi Kapanen got a few looks, was deemed ‘not ready’ and was subsequently sent back to the AHL, head coach Mike Babcock clearly has a different plan for #39. It’s not that he doesn’t believe in the young Finn, he just has an exorbitant amount of confidence in the Swede’s abilities.

“He’s excellent,” Babcock told The Globe and Mail. “He’s a smart, smart guy. He knows what you’re going to talk to him about before you talk to him. It’s just spending time to help guys get better. It’s part of the process. That’s what coaching is. He wants to be great. He understands [what it takes].

“What is going to decide [how good he can be] for him is just how much drive he has to do all the little things right. To train, to eat, to live. But he’s got ability.”

Such high praise from such an intense, highly-respected coach is the best case scenario for the young center, who has been kept at his natural position despite his troubling scoring drought. But Babcock knew from the time he accepted this coaching position that he would have to be patient with the young guys in the organization, that it would be a ‘process,’ as Toronto management likes to refer to it.

Nylander on being considered for worlds: "Of course, I'm happy they're looking, but first (priority is) to go try win a (Calder) Cup"

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) March 22, 2016

So far, 11 Maple Leafs prospects have made their NHL debuts this season. While the process has been a big reason for this, it also has a lot to do with the insane string of injuries Toronto veterans have suffered over the course of the 2015-16 season.

That’s why Nylander, in the absence of many of the team’s top offensive veterans, has become such a key cog so quickly. Arguably the Leafs’ most prized prospect, Nylander is getting a head-start on what is expected to be an all-star NHL career.

He’s starting to live up to the hype, after his struggles over the past week. On Saturday against Buffalo, Nylander tallied a goal and an assist, helping lift the Leafs to a 4-1 victory. Just two days later, he registered three points – including the game-winning goal – in the Leafs’ win against the Calgary Flames. Finally getting on the score-sheet, Nylander’s confidence is back and he is generating offense once again.

“I mean, it helps,” Nylander told NHL.com of his recent performances. “The more games you play, the more confidence you get. We’ll have to see how things continue. I won’t say I’ll continue to put up this amount of points. You just want to work hard every day and continue to get better.”

William Nylander named first star. Three points. Game-winning goal.

— James Mirtle (@mirtle) March 22, 2016

The young center has been creating problems for the Maple Leafs — good problems.

Toronto has been in last place in the league for quite some time due to an absolute tailspin, but thanks to big contributions from the kids, Nylander especially, the team is 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, and they have won five of their last seven. It certainly does not bode well for the Auston Matthews watch, as the Leafs have come within one point of the Winnipeg Jets for 29th place, but the success is refreshing for fans who have watched a losing team for the better half of the last two seasons.

It’s expected that Nylander will play the final 10 games of the regular season with the Maple Leafs and then join the Marlies in their AHL playoff run. The team has been the minor league’s best all year, and getting their best player back may just push them over the edge to Calder Cup glory.

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