Craig Berube on what he’s learned from coaching William Nylander: ‘Just leave him alone’

William Nylander has six goals and 13 points in eight playoff games so far. He’s second in scoring league-wide behind only Mikko Rantanen, who has 15, and he’s not going to stop until there are no doubters left. Or, rather, when the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup.

Some fans questioned whether Nylander would have a good relationship with new head coach Craig Berube, considering the mix of a skilled, but not physical forward, with some defensive issues and a head coach known for prioritizing a physical game with an emphasis on defending as a team. Now that the Leafs are in the second round, with Nylander coming off a 45-goal season in which his team clinched first in their division, it’s becoming evident that the two have thrived in each other’s presence. Berube noted that the main thing he’s learned about the star forward is to simply let him play his game.

“Just leave him alone,” Berube said to a room of laughter. “Nothing gets to him. He doesn’t feel pressure, and I could be wrong, but this is what I see. There’s no too big a stage for this guy; he thrives on this stuff, in my opinion, he looks forward to it, and he wants to be in on those critical situations. When he smells something, he’s there. That goal is as high-end as it can get, in my opinion, with hands.”

The goal he’s referring to is Nylander’s first period goal in Game 2 against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night, where he took a pass from Max Pacioretty and floated the puck over Sergei Bobrovsky’s shoulder to give the Leafs a 2-0 lead. Berube spoke fondly of Nylander’s hands in situations like that.