William Nylander Thriving Under Craig Berube’s Demands, Embracing Leadership Role in Post-Marner Era
When Craig Berube took over behind the Toronto Maple Leafs bench, it didn’t take long for his no-nonsense coaching style to make an impact. And if there’s one player who’s felt that intensity firsthand, it’s William Nylander. The Leafs’ star winger has always been a lightning rod for both praise and critique, but under Berube, the expectations are clearer-and higher-than ever.
What’s been striking, though, is how Nylander has responded. Berube hasn’t hesitated to call him out when his play dips below the standard, and yet, time and again, Nylander has answered the challenge.
That kind of push-pull dynamic can go sideways fast in pro sports, especially in a pressure-cooker market like Toronto. But here, it seems to be working.
“He’s very easy to talk to,” Nylander said in a recent interview. “Sometimes you butt heads, and you get into it now and then.
But that’s different. That’s the hockey part.”
That right there is the key. There’s mutual respect in that room.
Berube demands accountability, but he also communicates like a human being-not just a coach barking orders. And for Nylander, that balance has helped simplify his game.
Less overthinking, more execution.
Of course, this season hasn’t just been about adjusting to a new coach. The Leafs are also navigating life without Mitch Marner, who was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights.
That’s no small loss. Marner was more than just a top-line winger-he was a voice in the room, a playmaking engine, and Nylander’s teammate for nearly a decade.
“I mean, obviously, we miss him,” Nylander said. “In the beginning, it was weird… but now you’re used to him not being here.”
He didn’t sugarcoat it. Marner’s absence left a void, especially in terms of personality-“Mitchy did talk - talk like a lot,” Nylander joked-but the team has had to move on.
And Nylander? He’s done more than just fill the silence.
With Marner gone, Nylander has leaned into a more prominent playmaking role, and it’s paying off. He’s on track for what could be his best statistical season yet.
That’s not just about numbers-it’s about intention. He’s admitted to occasionally overpassing, trying to do too much, but he’s self-aware enough to course-correct.
And in a market like Toronto, where every shift is scrutinized, that kind of mental steadiness is invaluable.
“Maybe it’s because I don’t really care what anybody else outside the room is thinking,” Nylander said. “I just know what my level is and what I can and should be bringing to the table.”
That mindset has become one of Nylander’s defining traits. He’s not chasing headlines or trying to silence critics-he’s just playing his game. And with Berube pushing him to keep that game sharp, the results are showing.
The Leafs are still evolving under a new coach and without one of their longtime core players. But if Nylander continues to elevate his play-and embrace the leadership that comes with it-Toronto might just be finding a new identity built around quiet confidence and relentless execution.