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William Nylander revealed his thoughts on his crosscheck to Nate Schmidt and the potential consequences of the incident.
During Toronto's 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, William Nylander was given a double minor for cross-checking Panthers player Nate Schmidt in the face and could have had further consequences if the NHL decided so.
But Nylander avoided further punishment and now is focused on helping Toronto get back into the win column against Tampa Bay. After practice on Friday, Nylander gave his thoughts on the whole ordeal, as related by TSN's Mark Masters on X.
William Nylander's Comments On Double Minor Penalty
Nylander, who is enjoying another fantastic season and leads the Maple Leafs with 14 goals so far, opened up regarding how he viewed the play going down, chalking it up to an accident:
'I think what happened was he came to box me out & I wanted to box him out back & got him high. Didn't mean to do that.'
It's a simple case of two players having the same idea and one getting caught in the crossfire. Nylander is not a malicious player and was feeling frustrated at the fact that Toronto was struggling hard against a Florida team they needed to make a statement against.
Toronto couldn't afford to have Nylander out of the lineup, although they will be welcoming back Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies so if he were to miss a game it wouldn't completely handicap the team.
The NHL has been busy in recent weeks as well. They handed out suspensions to Ryan Reaves and Tanner Jeannot, and released a video outlining their rules for a headshot given how much controversy they have created with their action or lack thereof.
Since being drafted 8th overall by the Maple Leafs in 2014, he has put up fantastic numbers which include 231 goals, 321 assists in 625 games and is coming off back-to-back 40-goal seasons.
FAQ: William Nylander Breaks Silence On Double Minor Penalty
Q1: What did William Nylander say about his double minor penalty?
A1: Nylander reiterated that both players were trying to do the same thing to each other and Schmidt got caught in the crossfire. It was a rough scene that led to the double minor.
Q2: When does the NHL suspend players?
A2: Every incident is reviewed by the league and the Department of Player Safety then determines if a further hearing is required for the player. William Nylander's case was determined to be a one-off and the penalty was enough.
In closing, William Nylander got no further punishment from the league for his accidental cross-check on Nate Schmidt, cleared up any questions regarding his intent, and reiterated it was just an accident. It's a positive that Schmidt is okay, and that Nylander can play and not watch from the press box.
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Fans are furious over this proposed Jason Robertson trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Some NHL trade rumours make you think, and others feel like pure fantasy. A recent proposal linking the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs falls firmly into the second category, sparking debate over the future of Jason Robertson. The Dallas Stars are fresh off another deep playoff run and remain loaded with talent heading into 2025-26. Their top line of Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Mikko Rantanen is arguably the best in hockey, a group carefully built through patience, planning, and smart cap management. So when a recent article from Heavy.com floated the idea of Dallas trading Robertson to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a one-for-one swap for veteran defenseman Morgan Rielly, eyebrows shot up across the hockey world. No prospects. No picks. Just Robertson for Rielly. The Dallas Stars trading Jason Robertson for Morgan Rielly would be a massive mistake Robertson isn't just another forward. He's a franchise cornerstone, a 40-goal scorer, and a player with multiple 80-point seasons already on his résumé. His full stats are available at NHL.com. He's also only 26 and entering his prime years. Rielly, meanwhile, is 31, carries a no-move clause, and while steady, does not address a pressing need in Dallas. With Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Harley, and Lian Bichsel leading the way, the Stars already have a strong defensive core with youth and upside. Even Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos recently cautioned about the complexity of Robertson's next deal, but nothing about that analysis justifies moving him for an aging defenseman. "The Stars need to be careful with how they handle Robertson," Kypreos noted. Careful, however, does not mean giving him away. I think Dallas would be foolish to even entertain this type of move. Robertson isn't just a player, he's part of the identity of the Stars and a key piece of their Stanley Cup hopes. This isn't NHL 26, this is real life, and stars like Robertson simply don't come around often.
New Dallas Cowboys DT Kenny Clark Excitedly Posts About Joining ‘America’s Team’
The Dallas Cowboys’ stunning trade of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers sent shockwaves through the NFL, but the silver lining arrived Thursday afternoon in the form of three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark. The veteran immediately took to social media to share his excitement about joining America’s Team, posting a video of himself smiling widely on his private jet bound for Dallas. Clark’s enthusiasm was infectious as he documented his journey to Big D, clearly thrilled about the opportunity to anchor the Cowboys’ defensive line. The timing couldn’t be more crucial, with the regular season opener against the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles just days away. This trade represents more than just a player swap—it’s a strategic move that could redefine Dallas’ defensive identity for years to come. Kenny Clark Lands in Dallas: A New Chapter The social media post that captured Cowboys fans’ attention showed Clark beaming with excitement as his plane approached Dallas. His genuine enthusiasm reflects a player who understands the magnitude of joining one of the NFL’s most storied franchises. The timing of his arrival creates immediate pressure, but Clark’s veteran experience suggests he’s ready for the challenge. Clark’s journey to Dallas represents a fresh start for both player and team. After eight seasons in Green Bay, he brings championship pedigree and playoff experience that the Cowboys desperately need. His presence immediately fills a void that has plagued Dallas for years—reliable interior pass rush and run defense from the nose tackle position. The defensive tackle market has been historically thin, making Clark’s acquisition even more valuable. Teams rarely trade established defensive linemen of Clark’s caliber, especially during their prime years. The fact that Dallas secured his services as part of the Parsons package deal represents exceptional value in an era where quality interior defensive linemen command premium compensation. 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Jerry Jones again proves he shouldn't be making decisions for Cowboys
When it comes to major decisions for the Dallas Cowboys it is always going to be Jerry Jones' way or the highway. The problem with that philosophy, however, is that the Jerry Jones way has proven to be a failure for more than 30 years. It's long past time for him to give up control of the team and hire a real general manager to fix the mess he keeps creating. All of that is back on the front-burner again following Thursday's conclusion of the Micah Parsons saga, with the All-Pro superstar getting traded to the Green Bay Packers for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks. In a vacuum, it's not a terrible return. Clark is a legitimate starter on the defensive line -- and a very good player -- and two first-round picks are always going to have some value. But professional sports does not exist in a vacuum. There is always more context at play, and the context here is that an in-his-prime superstar (Parsons), that is one of the biggest game-changers in the league, and a player that was trying to make it work in Dallas, is now playing for somebody else because Jones could not get out of his own way. From the very beginning Jones bungled this contract negotiation, doing the one thing he does best — making himself and Cowboys drama the focal point, and what is best for the team a secondary matter. It's the Jerry Jones way. And it's a losing way. This situation did not have to end up the way it did. There was a perfectly reasonable outcome that would have seen Parsons remain in Dallas throughout the prime of his career and continue to be a focal point of its defense. All it would have taken was a common sense approach and an owner whose concern for the organization outweighed their ego. Every major negotiation with the Cowboys ends up getting drawn out into chaos. It's all part of Jerry's desire to keep him and his team at the top of the headlines. It usually results in him having to pay a player more money than he otherwise would have. And even that may not be a problem for Jerry because he gets to talk about how he negotiated and paid out this huge contract. This time, however, the plan finally burned him. If you want to reach, or if you want to carry Jones' water for him, you might be able to put together a somewhat coherent argument as to how this can work out. Maybe those two first-round picks will pan out in the future. Maybe Clark is a great fit in the middle of Dallas' defensive line. Maybe. Maybe, maybe, maybe. The more maybe's you throw in, the more likely it is they are not going to all pan out. Clark is good, but he's not Parsons. He is not as disruptive, he is not as good and he is going to be 30 years old this season while Parsons is still only 26. Two first-round picks looks good on paper, but the Packers are a pretty good team — and will be even better with Parsons — and those picks will likely be in the back half of the first-round. You hope to find a good player with at least one of them, if not both. The odds that either one is as good as Parsons are long. Since winning their last Super Bowl during the 1995 season the Cowboys have consistently been one of the NFL's most mediocre franchises. Never truly awful, but never good. They will make the playoffs semi-regularly, but never go anywhere. They have the longest NFC Championship game drought in the conference. They never get close to the Super Bowl and have not been bonafide contenders in literal decades. A sane owner would look at those results and would have fired multiple general managers for that run. Jones has no one to fire because he is the general manager. And he likes the way he is doing things. The problem is it doesn't work. It hasn't worked. And it won't work. History has proven that.
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