As a Leafs fan, I sure was fired up at William Nylander last season. Holding out on the team that drafted him for more money; missed half the season and sucked the other half. He wasn’t exactly horrendous in the playoffs, but he certainly wasn’t a game changer either.

Willy looked great in his first two full seasons of National League Hockey and got big eyes and hunger for his pay day. I get, I really do; who doesn’t want to make millions of dollars playing hockey? The irritating part was that he and Dubas couldn’t figure it out during the offseason. The same crap is happening with our beloved Mitch Marner right now. Please Mitchy don’t do this to us fans, or to yourself it’s really the worst.

So Nylander blew it last season, I’m still annoyed by it to be frank. But I can forgive him if he comes out this year guns a blazing. A number change doesn’t do much for me, but I do like 88 and I was always a fan of big E (Lindros). Perhaps this is a way Nylander can get a fresh start and elevate his game to the next level; one can hope.

Do you think William Nylander can get himself back to his 60+ point self? I sure as hell do. Something tells me Willy is going to be on a war path this season, he seems to have the desire to improve his stature with Leafs Nation. That’s a start.

What I’d like to see from the Leafs number 88 next season:
- Use his speed more
- Don’t curl into the corner after entering the zone; drive the net
- Use his shot more
- Improve his offensive fore-check

The Leafs will no longer have Kadri on their first power play as well as Marleau on their second unit. There will be some voids to fill and with the newest addition on defense (Tyson Barrie), the Leafs may be better off having three forwards and two defenders on the first unit.

Matthews-Tavares-Marner
Rielly-Barrie

Johnsson-Kerfoot-Kapanen
Muzzin-Nylander

Time will tell what Babcock decides to do, but I could see something like this for the Leafs power play in the 2019/2020 season.

One of the keys to this season is a Nylander rebound.

If he and Matthews can ignite all season long we may see Matthews score his first 50 goal season and Nylander break 70 points. I believe it will happen, the Leafs have all the firepower they need to set some franchise records this upcoming season.

If you have a Nylander jersey, be sure to take it to Real Sports and they will change the number compliments of William himself! One fan even showed a picture of his custom #29 shoes and he was promised to get some fresh kicks.

It’s time for Willy to show everyone that he’s worth every penny of that 6.9 million.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy your day!

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