William Nylander’s On-Camera Gesture Draws Attention Amid Leafs’ Slide
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the middle of a tough stretch, and tensions are naturally running high. But on Sunday afternoon, one moment off the ice managed to grab just as much attention as anything that happened on it.
During the third period of the Leafs’ 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche - their fourth straight defeat - cameras caught William Nylander in the press box making a middle-finger gesture toward a TSN camera. The moment was brief, but it didn’t go unnoticed. As the broadcast zoomed in on a group of injured or scratched Leafs players watching from above, Nylander realized he was on camera and responded with the gesture, then smirked and leaned back out of frame.
TSN play-by-play voice Gord Miller summed up the moment with a simple, “Oh, William,” as the clip quickly made its rounds online.
Now, let’s be clear: whether Nylander was joking or not, the optics aren’t great. He’s been sidelined with a groin injury for the past five games, and while he’s not on the ice, he’s still one of the team’s most visible stars - especially in a market like Toronto, where every move is magnified.
Nylander wasn’t alone in the booth. He was sitting with fellow Leafs scratches Chris Tanev and Dakota Joshua (both also dealing with groin injuries), along with Calle Jarnkrok and Philippe Myers, who were out as healthy scratches. The group was watching as the Leafs fell behind 3-0 early in the third, and the frustration was palpable - not just for fans, but for players, too.
Still, this wasn’t the kind of moment that helps a team trying to right the ship. The Leafs are now 0-3-1 on their five-game homestand, and Sunday’s loss dropped them five points out of a playoff spot. With the surging Buffalo Sabres coming to town on Tuesday - a team that’s won three straight and seven of its last ten - the pressure is only mounting.
Nylander has long been known for his cool, unbothered demeanor. It’s part of what makes him so effective on the ice - he doesn’t get rattled, doesn’t force the game, and often plays with a calm confidence that sets him apart. But there’s a fine line between being laid back and looking disengaged, especially when the team is struggling and fans are looking for signs of urgency.
The Leafs, now sitting at 24-19-9, don’t have much margin for error as the second half of the season rolls on. And while a moment like this isn’t going to define their season, it does add another layer to the narrative surrounding this team - a group that, once again, is fighting to live up to high expectations in a hockey-mad city.
Nylander’s gesture may have been spontaneous, even lighthearted. But in the context of a team trying to claw its way back into the playoff picture, it’s a reminder that every moment counts - on the ice and off it.