William Nylander’s start to the season has given the Maple Leafs a jolt, and Saturday night was the clearest sign yet of how much he’s driving their attack.
In Toronto’s 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche, Nylander put together the second five-point game of his career, piling up two goals and three assists while factoring into every Leafs goal scored. The performance pushed Toronto to 3-2-1 and gave Nylander 700 career NHL points, a marker that speaks to how steady he’s been through 12 seasons with the club.
The night also moved him into some notable franchise territory. Nylander passed George Armstrong and Frank Mahovlich for seventh on the Maple Leafs’ all-time goal list, and he now sits three goals away from 300 career goals with Toronto.
What stands out most, though, is how quickly he’s become the engine of the offense. Through six games, the 30-year-old has already produced three multi-point outings, keeping Toronto’s scoring group moving while the team looks for rhythm early in the season.
He became the first Maple Leaf to have five points in a game since Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies did it on Jan. 4, 2025.
Nylander’s production has also helped open things up for others. His clutch offense has played a role in jump-starting Auston Matthews and Kirill Marchenko, while his ability to carry more of the offensive load has helped Toronto stay in the fight after defenseman Chris Tanev’s injury.
And beyond the numbers, Nylander’s pace has mattered. His speed and aggressive style have taken pressure off the rest of the lineup, including rookie Gavin McKenna, who picked up his first point four games into the NHL season.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Suddenly Face A Blue Line Problem Without Chris Tanev
The Maple Leafs have had to reshuffle their blue line after veteran defenseman T.J. Tanev left Saturday nights win over the Avalanche in the first period with an upper-body injury. Toronto has since placed him on injured reserve, a development that forces the team to lean on its depth a little earlier than planned and puts added pressure on a defense group that has already been working through adjustments under coach Jim Hiller.
Marshall Rifai was recalled from the Marlies to give the Maple Leafs another option on the back end, while Nick Blankenburg has been asked to take on a bigger role in Tanevs absence. For a team that values stability on defense, the mix-and-match look is not ideal, and it leaves Toronto waiting to see how quickly it can settle its pairings once Tanev is available again. [Read more 🡒]
Auston Matthews May Be Unlocking Something New Under Jim Hiller
Auston Matthews has wasted little time giving the Maple Leafs a reason to look twice at what has changed around him. In a short run under Jim Hiller, Matthews has already produced two four-point games, a burst that stands out next to the more limited high-end scoring he had across two seasons under Craig Berube. The sample is tiny, but it is hard not to notice the difference when one of the leagues most dangerous finishers starts flashing that kind of ceiling again.
The explanation may not be simple, and it probably is not just about Matthews suddenly seeing the ice differently. Coaching style, ice time, linemates and power-play usage all come into the conversation here, because those are the details that can either feed a scorer or starve him of chances. The Leafs are still early in this evaluation, but if Hiller is opening up new offensive lanes for Matthews, it is the sort of adjustment that could matter well beyond a six-game snapshot. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Blue Line Suddenly Has A Concern Fans Know Too Well
Oliver Ekman-Larsson did not take part in Mondays practice for the Maple Leafs, a note that carries extra weight because of how often his availability has become a topic of conversation lately. The team labeled it a maintenance day, which suggests he is managing an injury and the club is trying to keep him out of trouble rather than push him into extra work too soon.
The timing matters because Torontos blue line has already been forced to absorb some recent shuffling, with Chris Tanev on injured reserve and Marshall Rifai brought in as added depth. For a team that has spent enough time dealing with defensive absences, even a routine day off for Ekman-Larsson can feel like the start of something bigger, and the Leafs will be watching closely to make sure it stays small. [Read more 🡒]