William Nylander

William Andrew Michael Junior Nylander Altelius (born 1 May 1996) is a Swedish and Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL).

As a youth, Nylander played in the 2009 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the New York Rangers minor ice hockey team.

On 14 February 2013, Nylander made his HockeyAllsvenskan debut.

Playing alongside his father Michael Nylander with Södertälje SK, he earned an assist in his first professional game on a goal by Robert Carlsson.

Nylander closed out his 2013–14 season with a successful 22-game rookie stint in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), where he would play as many as 20 minutes per night.

Nylander was selected by the Maple Leafs in the first round, eighth overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

In international play, Nylander represents Sweden.

Ranked as a top prospect in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, he was ultimately selected eighth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Nylander was highly praised for his offensive talent and puck-moving abilities; however, criticisms were drawn to his defensive game and then-small stature, measuring 5 ft tall and weighing 169 lb at the draft combine.

After being drafted eighth overall, on 18 August 2014, Nylander was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Maple Leafs.

Although he left Modo Hockey after 21 games in the 2014–15 SHL season, Nylander was mentioned as a possible candidate for the SHL Rookie of the Year award.

Nylander began the season playing with MoDo Hockey of the SHL, tallying eight goals and 12 assists in 21 games, but on 12 January 2015, he was reassigned to the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, to further his development.

Nylander experienced a sensational campaign despite joining the AHL squad mid-season, scoring 32 points in 37 games playing on the right-wing.

He was vital in helping the Marlies, who were at the bottom of the standings prior to Nylander joining, reach the 2015 Calder Cup playoffs.

Nylander made his NHL debut on 29 February 2016, against the Tampa Bay Lightning at age 19.

He scored his first goal on 5 March 2016, against Andrew Hammond of the Ottawa Senators.

His first NHL goal was assisted by Brooks Laich, who also assisted William's father Michael on his last NHL goal.

The next season, Nylander made the Maple Leafs roster full-time.

He debuted alongside Zach Hyman and Auston Matthews on 12 October 2016, in the season opener against the Ottawa Senators.

Nylander quickly found chemistry with his linemates, helping Matthews set an NHL record for most goals scored in a rookie's debut with four by assisting on two of the goals.

On 1 November, Nylander was named Rookie of the Month by the NHL for October.

He had recorded 11 points in nine games, which was good enough for second in league scoring and first among rookie players.

After his hot start in October, Nylander struggled in November, scoring only five points in 13 games.

He had a nine-game goalless stretch between 27 October and 15 November.

Nylander recovered, scoring twice in three games, but then went on another scoreless stretch between 22 November and 22 December, a span of 13 games.

Nylander scored in back-to-back games to end the drought.

In the 2017 IIHF World Championship, he won gold and was named the tournament's most valuable player (MVP).

He scored his first NHL career hat-trick on 4 February 2017, against the Boston Bruins.

Nylander's 61 points helped the Maple Leafs qualify for the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, where they were eliminated in six games by the Washington Capitals.

During the 2017–18 season, Nylander was again placed on the top line with Matthews and Hyman.

Early in the season, Nylander went on an 11-game scoring drought, which ended in an overtime goal against the New Jersey Devils.

By scoring that goal, Nylander became only the second player in franchise history (the first being Miroslav Fryčer) to score the only goal of a regular season game in overtime.

He ended the regular season recording 61 points, the same as his rookie season.

The Maple Leafs once again qualified for the playoffs, where they were eliminated in seven games of the first round by the Boston Bruins.

He recorded one goal and three assists during those seven games.

Nylander became a restricted free agent during the off-season.

He went unsigned throughout the summer, seeking a long-term extension as opposed to a "bridge deal".

Nylander did not attend the team's training camp.

The Maple Leafs began the season without Nylander, as the two sides could not come to an agreement beforehand.

As a restricted free agent, Nylander needed to sign before 1 December to be eligible to play during the 2018–19 season.