William Nylander (Image Credits: Imagn)

William Nylander Flips The Middle Finger At Camera While Watching Maple Leafs Get Thrashed

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Swati Bhatia | Last updated Jan 26, 2026 1:10 AM ET

William Nylander is currently recovering from a lower-body injury, and until recently, the focus around him had been on when he might return to the lineup. On Saturday, the forward resumed skating, which gave fans hope that help could soon be on the way for a struggling Toronto Maple Leafs team. Instead, Nylander found himself at the center of attention for a very different reason.

During Sunday’s home game against the Colorado Avalanche, Nylander was not on the ice but in the stands. A TSN broadcast camera panned to the press box, showing the Maple Leafs’ injured and scratched players. Nylander was seated alongside Chris Tanev, Dakota Joshua, Calle Jarnkrok, and Philippe Myers.

As the camera lingered, Nylander noticed he was on live television. He smiled and briefly raised his middle finger before the broadcast quickly cut back to the ice.

Watch the video:

Leafs players in the press box realized they were on the tv broadcast and William Nylander flipped the bird? pic.twitter.com/be70R2GuX0
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 25, 2026

The clip quickly spread across social media, drawing mixed reactions from fans. Shortly after the game, Nylander took to Instagram to issue a public apology and expressed regret for his action.

William Nylander Could Face Punishment for Middle Finger Gesture

According to Chris Johnston of The Athletic, the NHL is now investigating the incident, and Nylander could face some form of punishment. Any discipline would be another concern for the Maple Leafs, who are already struggling without him.

William Nylander apologizes for “moment of frustration” @BarDown pic.twitter.com/ynEk2RLDyS
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) January 26, 2026

The Toronto side was beaten 4-1 by the Avalanche, with Brock Nelson scoring a hat trick for Colorado. Max Domi provided the lone goal for Toronto, while Joseph Woll made 33 saves in the loss. The defeat dropped the Maple Leafs to a 24-19-9 record and extended their losing streak to four games.

With the league now involved and the team struggling, the Maple Leafs will be hoping this moment does not become a bigger distraction as they try to get their season back on track.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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