William Nylander May Be the Maple Leafs’ Best Player

Some of that 33-point difference can obviously be attributed to Nylander playing 20 more games. But games played don’t explain everything. Over an 82-game pace, Nylander’s production comes to about 43 goals and 93 points. Matthews has about 39 goals and 87 points. Nylander hasn’t simply produced more because he’s played more. He’s played more and produced at a higher offensive rate.

Durability Has to Be Part of the Discussion

Matthews’ health provides important context. He has dealt with injuries over this period. Some have caused him to miss games, while nagging physical issues have also affected his effectiveness while he’s remained in the lineup. Last season ultimately ended prematurely because of a more serious knee injury. It’s impossible to know exactly what a completely healthy Matthews would have produced.

But if we’re asking who has provided more value to the Maple Leafs, we can’t simply remove durability from the equation. Nylander has been available more often. That has allowed him to produce 16 more goals and 33 more points over this stretch. Availability matters. Despite the Maple Leafs’ poor 2025-26 season, Nylander was the team’s most valuable player.

The advantage also carried into Toronto’s most recent playoff run. Nylander had six goals and 15 points, while Matthews finished with three goals and 11 points. And nothing through the first six games of this season has changed the argument.

Nylander has five goals and 11 points. Matthews has four goals and 10 points.

But Being the Best Player Means More Than Scoring

If we stopped the comparison there, it would be easy to declare Nylander Toronto’s best player. But that wouldn’t tell the entire story. Matthews remains the superior 200-foot player. While Nylander’s offensive ability has never been questioned, his play without the puck has frequently been the weaker part of his game. Matthews, meanwhile, has developed into a player who can impact games at both ends of the ice.

Even plus/minus, as imperfect as that statistic is, provides some supporting evidence. Over the regular-season period we’re examining, Matthews is plus-9 while Nylander is minus-5. Include Toronto’s 2025 playoff run, when Matthews was even, and Nylander was minus-3, and the difference becomes 17 goals — Matthews at plus-9 and Nylander at minus-8.

That doesn’t prove Matthews is the better defensive player. Plus/minus has far too many variables for that. But it does reinforce something that’s readily apparent from watching them play. Matthews contributes considerably more away from the puck.

So, Is Nylander Toronto’s Best Player?

The answer is probably not. If we’re defining “best” as the most complete player, Matthews still deserves that distinction. His defensive game, his ability to play in every situation and his impact over the entire 200 feet of the ice give him something Nylander hasn’t demonstrated to the same degree.

But the fact we’re even having this discussion says something significant about what Nylander has accomplished. Over the past two-plus seasons, he has played more games than Matthews. He’s scored more goals. He’s produced more points. His offensive production has been higher even when adjusted to an 82-game pace. He outproduced Matthews in their most recent playoff appearance, and he’s started ahead of him again this season.

So perhaps Nylander hasn’t become the Maple Leafs’ best player. But he may have become something else. Nylander has a legitimate case as the Maple Leafs’ biggest offensive threat. And considering Matthews has occupied that position almost unquestioned for most of his NHL career, that’s a significant change in Toronto.

[Note: I want to thank long-time Maple Leafs fan Stan Smith for collaborating with me on this post. Stan’s Facebook profile can be found here.]