William Nylander facts for kids

Quick facts for kids William Nylander
Nylander with the Toronto Marlies in 2016
Born	(1996-05-01) 1 May 1996 (age 29) Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
Position	Forward
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Toronto Maple Leafs Modo Hockey
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	8th overall, 2014 Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	2013–present

William Andrew Michael Junior Nylander Altelius (born May 1, 1996) is a professional ice hockey player from Sweden. He plays as a forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Maple Leafs chose Nylander as the eighth overall pick in the 2014 NHL entry draft. Even though he was born in Canada, William plays for the Swedish national team. He won a gold medal and was named the most valuable player (MVP) at the 2017 World Championship.

William Nylander's Hockey Journey

As a young player, William Nylander took part in the 2009 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. He played for the New York Rangers' minor ice hockey team.

Starting in Sweden

On February 14, 2013, Nylander made his professional debut in the HockeyAllsvenskan league in Sweden. He played alongside his father, Michael Nylander, for Södertälje SK. In his very first game, he got an assist on a goal.

Nylander finished his 2013–14 season playing in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He played well in 22 games, sometimes playing for 20 minutes each night. He was seen as a top young player for the 2014 NHL entry draft. The Toronto Maple Leafs picked him eighth overall. People praised his attacking skills and how well he handled the puck. At the time, he was considered a bit small for an NHL player.

Joining the Toronto Maple Leafs

After being drafted, Nylander signed a three-year contract with the Maple Leafs on August 18, 2014. He started the season playing for MoDo Hockey in the SHL. He scored eight goals and made 12 assists in 21 games.

On January 12, 2015, he moved to the Toronto Marlies. This team is the Maple Leafs' minor league team in the American Hockey League (AHL). Nylander had a great time with the Marlies, scoring 32 points in 37 games. He helped the Marlies reach the 2015 Calder Cup playoffs.

Nylander during the 2016 AHL All-Star skills competition

Nylander played his first NHL game on February 29, 2016, against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was 19 years old. He scored his first NHL goal on March 5, 2016, against Andrew Hammond of the Ottawa Senators. Interestingly, the player who assisted his first NHL goal also assisted his father's last NHL goal.

Becoming a Full-Time NHL Player

The next season, Nylander became a full-time player for the Maple Leafs. He played his first game of the season on October 12, 2016. He played on a line with Zach Hyman and Auston Matthews. Nylander quickly worked well with his teammates. He helped Matthews set an NHL record by assisting on two of Matthews' four goals in his debut game.

In October, Nylander was named "Rookie of the Month" by the NHL. He had 11 points in nine games, which was second-best in the league and best among new players. He had a tougher time in November, but he bounced back. On February 4, 2017, Nylander scored his first NHL "hat-trick" (three goals in one game) against the Boston Bruins. His 61 points helped the Maple Leafs get into the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. They were eliminated in six games by the Washington Capitals.

Nylander during the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs

During the 2017–18 season, Nylander played on the top line again with Matthews and Hyman. He had an 11-game period without scoring, but he ended it with an overtime goal. He finished the season with 61 points, just like his first full season. The Maple Leafs made the playoffs again. They lost in seven games to the Boston Bruins in the first round. He scored one goal and had three assists in those seven games.

Contract Negotiations and Return

After the 2018 season, Nylander became a "restricted free agent." This meant he needed to sign a new contract with the Maple Leafs. He wanted a long-term deal. He did not attend the team's training camp and missed the start of the season. He needed to sign before December 1 to play in the 2018–19 season.

While he was away, Nylander practiced in Sweden and Austria. It was reported that he lost money each day he didn't sign. Just minutes before the deadline, Nylander agreed to a six-year, $45 million contract. He made his season debut on December 6 against the Detroit Red Wings. He struggled for the rest of that season, scoring 27 points in 54 games.

Nylander in 2024

Nylander's play got much better the next season. This was especially true after the Maple Leafs changed their head coach. When the NHL season was stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nylander had already scored a career-high 31 goals in 68 games. He also had 28 assists.

On January 8, 2024, Nylander signed a new eight-year, $92 million contract with the Maple Leafs. He was later chosen to play in the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, which was his first time being an All-Star.

Playing for Sweden

Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
Gold	2017 Germany/France

Even though William Nylander was born in Canada, he plays for Sweden in international hockey. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) said he could play for Sweden on November 12, 2012.

He played for the Swedish under-18 team in the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He had the most assists in the tournament (eight) and helped his team win a gold medal. In the 2014 World U18 Championships, Nylander was a star player. He won the scoring race with 16 points in seven games. At the 2015 World Junior Championships, Nylander finished fifth in scoring.

Nylander played for the senior Swedish team for the first time at the 2017 World Championship. The Swedish team won the gold medal. He led his team in scoring with 14 points in 10 games and was named the tournament's MVP.

About William Nylander's Family

William Nylander was born in Calgary, Canada. His father, Michael Nylander, was playing for the Calgary Flames at the time. William has dual citizenship, meaning he is a citizen of both Sweden and Canada.

He spent most of his childhood in the United States because his father played for several NHL teams there. During the summers, he would visit Sweden. When he was 14, his family moved to Sweden.

William's younger brother, Alexander Nylander, also plays in the NHL. Alexander was picked eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL entry draft. On November 24, 2024, William and Alexander became the fifth pair of brothers to play a game together for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and Honours