What Kind of Player Is Maple Leafs William Nylander, Really?

One of the big questions facing the Toronto Maple Leafs this season is whether Auston Matthews and William Nylander should play on the same line now that Mitch Marner has been traded. Really, the answer to the question falls on a second question. And that is what kind of a player is Nylander really?

The logic of the answer to this question seems simple. If both players are “shoot-first” and “pass-second” players, why stack two natural goal scorers on the same line instead of spreading the offense around? Let’s examine the numbers.

Do the Numbers Answer the Question of the Maple Leafs’ First Line?

At first glance, the numbers appear convincing that the two scorers should be separated. Matthews has led the Maple Leafs with 142 goals over the past two seasons, with Nylander close behind at 125. But is that proof enough? Perhaps not.

Nylander’s career totals support the argument that he’s as much a distributor as a scorer. He’s recorded 612 points: 262 goals (43%) and 350 assists (57%). In the playoffs, the split is nearly identical—32 goals (45%) and 39 assists (55%) in 67 games. Despite his highlight-reel goals, Nylander’s broader body of work shows he’s just as much a setup man.

Even last year’s career-high 45 goals came with a twist. His shot rate actually dropped to 9.49 per 60 minutes, well below the 11.2 he averaged from 2021–23. The difference was efficiency: his shooting percentage spiked to 17.8%, far above his career norms. In other words, he wasn’t shooting more often—he was finishing better.

How Nylander Differs From Matthews

Contrast Nylander’s numbers with those of Matthews, who is the definition of a shoot-first player. He’s piled up 401 goals against 326 assists in his career, with a consistently higher shot volume—over 12 per 60 minutes. Matthews generates more shots and scores a greater share of his points by finding the back of the net.

Nylander, by comparison, blends scoring with playmaking. He’s a dual threat, capable of creating offense in multiple ways.