Nylander’s ability to shut out the noise in the hyper-sensitive Toronto market makes him well-suited for the Maple Leafs. You’ll never see him flustered by media or his opponents. Being a part of a hockey family with his former NHL star father Michael Nylander has prepared him well for the mental and physical rigors of the pro game.

Nylander also became the fourth player in franchise history to post three consecutive 40-goal seasons, joining Auston Matthews, Rick Vaive and Lanny McDonald. When asked what he took from last year’s late scoring slump, as he failed to score in the final 11 games of the 2024 regular season, Nylander shrugged.