When asked about any regrets as the Maple Leafs' 2025-26 season continues to unravel, star winger William Nylander chose to keep his thoughts private.
“I have my thoughts about maybe some stuff, but that’s something I’m going to keep to myself,” Nylander commented.
Nylander’s relationship with coach Craig Berube has seen its fair share of intriguing moments, and Friday at the Ford Performance Centre was no exception. Berube has been clear in his desire for Nylander to take more shots. During a two-on-one drill, after Nylander took a shot, he skated back to Berube with a playful gesture, cupping his glove around his ear.
“It was just a little fun and games,” Nylander explained. “He was yelling at guys to shoot it, so I shot it, and then I asked him if he saw it. It was good.”
Berube added, “He’s not shooting enough. We were having a little fun out there … He handles everything well.
His attitude, given the Leafs’ tough season, is commendable, and he’s not used to this situation. But he knows we still have games to play, and we need to compete and play the right way.”
Back in December, Berube noted that he has a “good relationship” with Nylander, who “keeps me on my toes about things.”
Nylander is having a solid season with 67 points, including 25 goals and 47 assists in 56 games, matching his career-high average of 1.2 points per game. However, in Berube’s first year, his shots per game dipped to 3.1, and this season, he’s averaging 2.3 shots.
Reflecting on the season, Nylander was more open about his personal approach, acknowledging the likelihood of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.