Key Takeaways:
– William Nylander, a forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs, was sidelined due to migraines in the early stages of the first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins.
– Following Toronto’s playoff debacle, Nylander defends the core quadrant of Maple Leafs players, which includes him, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and John Tavares.
– Nylander inked an eight-year extension to his contract, set to commence from the next season.
Migraines Keep Nylander Out of Early Games
Toronto Maple Leafs’ star forward William Nylander, who performed in all 82 games during the regular season, did not appear in the first three games of the team’s first-round playoff clash against the Boston Bruins. Although the absence somewhat baffled fans and experts alike, Nylander confirmed on May 4 that migraines had held him out of the lineup.
It was after Toronto succumbed to a 2-1 defeat in overtime to the Bruins that Nylander disclosed the health issue that had kept him off the ice.
“I had had a migraine. They just kept me precautionary to see what was going on. They considered it might be a concussion. When I started feeling better, they let me play,” Nylander revealed to the media. He further explained that the migraines were so severe that they impacted his vision, making it arduous for him to perform on the field.
Leafs’ Core Four Unshaken Despite Playoff Loss
The playoff loss to Boston had many pointing fingers at the Maple Leafs’ core four — Nylander, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and John Tavares. The team has only had a single victory in their previous nine playoff series, drawing a cloud of skepticism over the ability of the ‘core four’ to deliver. Nevertheless, Nylander jumped to their defense.
“I don’t think there’s an issue with the core. We were right there all series, fought hard and got it to Game 7 and OT. The fact that we battled back from 3-1 down sucks…We had a great group of guys so it really sucks,” he stated.
Toronto’s head coach, Sheldon Keefe, also expressed satisfaction with how his star players had rallied to push the series to a Game 7. Keefe emphasized the unity of the team and a palpable sense of difference in this year’s game-play. He further highlighted the unchanged core of his team surrounded by different players, creating an indisputably unique atmosphere around the team.
Nylander Looks to Future with New Contract
Nylander is all set to round out the final year of the six-year deal he signed back in December 2018. Following an impressive run in the 2023-24 NHL season, during which he logged a sensational 40 goals and 58 assists across 82 games, Nylander signed a lucrative eight-year extension worth $11.5 million per season.
This mega-deal kicks off from the next season, extending through the 2031-32 NHL season. It also grants the Swede complete autonomy over movement during the entire stretch of the contract.
Drafted eighth overall in the 2014 NHL Draft by the Maple Leafs, Nylander remains a notable asset for the team. As his migraines subside and Nylander returns to full strength, the entirety of the hockey world will be keenly watching his gameplay in the upcoming season.
Source: Heavy.com
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