William Nylander facts for kids

Quick facts for kids William Nylander
Nylander with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024
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 1 May 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 their eighth overall pick in the 2014 NHL entry draft. Even though he was born in Canada, William Nylander plays for Sweden in international games. He helped Sweden win a gold medal at the 2017 World Championship and was named the tournament's best player (MVP).

William Nylander's Hockey Journey

William Nylander started playing hockey at a young age. In 2009, he played in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a team from the New York Rangers.

On 14 February 2013, Nylander played his first professional game in the HockeyAllsvenskan league in Sweden. He played alongside his father, Michael Nylander, for Södertälje SK. In that first game, he got an assist, helping his team score a goal. Nylander finished his 2013–14 season playing well in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He was seen as a top player for the 2014 NHL entry draft. The Toronto Maple Leafs picked him eighth overall. People praised Nylander for his great attacking skills and how well he handled the puck.

Joining the Toronto Maple Leafs

Nylander with the Toronto Marlies in 2016

After being drafted, Nylander signed a three-year contract with the Maple Leafs on 18 August 2014. He started the season playing for MoDo Hockey in the SHL, scoring eight goals and 12 assists in 21 games. On 12 January 2015, he moved to the Toronto Marlies, which is the Maple Leafs' team in the American Hockey League (AHL). This move helped him develop his skills even more. Nylander had an amazing season with the Marlies, scoring 32 points in 37 games. He played a big part in helping the Marlies reach the 2015 Calder Cup playoffs, as they were at the bottom of the standings before he joined.

Nylander during the 2016 AHL All-Star skills competition

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

The next season, Nylander became a full-time player for the Maple Leafs. He played his first game of the season on 12 October 2016, with teammates Zach Hyman and Auston Matthews. Nylander quickly worked well with his linemates. He helped Matthews set an NHL record by assisting two of Matthews' four goals in his first game. On 1 November, Nylander was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for October. He had 11 points in nine games, which was second in the league and first among new players.

After a strong start, Nylander had a tougher time in November, scoring only five points in 13 games. He went nine games without a goal. Nylander then scored twice in three games, but then had another period without scoring for 13 games. He ended that streak by scoring in two games in a row. On 4 February 2017, Nylander scored his first NHL hat-trick (three goals in one game) against the Boston Bruins. Nylander's 61 points helped the Maple Leafs make it to 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 again on the top line with Matthews and Hyman. Early in the season, Nylander went 11 games without scoring, but he ended that with an overtime goal against the New Jersey Devils. He finished the regular season with 61 points, the same as his first full season. The Maple Leafs made the playoffs again. They were eliminated in seven games by the Boston Bruins in the first round. He scored one goal and had three assists in those seven games.

Nylander became a restricted free agent after that season. This meant he could sign with other teams, but the Maple Leafs could match any offer. He did not sign a contract during the summer and missed the team's training camp. The Maple Leafs started the 2018–19 season without him because they couldn't agree on a contract. As a restricted free agent, Nylander had to sign before 1 December to play that season. While he was away, he skated in Sweden and Austria. It was reported that he lost money each day he didn't sign. Just minutes before the 1 December deadline, Nylander agreed to a six-year, $45 million contract. He was a healthy scratch for his first game back but played his season debut on 6 December against the Detroit Red Wings. He struggled for the rest of that season, getting 27 points in 54 games.

Nylander's play got much better the next season, especially after the Maple Leafs changed their head coach. When the NHL season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nylander had already scored a career-high 31 goals in 68 games, along with 28 assists.

Nylander continued to improve. In the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, he scored more than 80 points in both years.

On 8 January 2024, Nylander signed a new eight-year, $92 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs. He was later chosen for the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, which was his first time being an NHL All-Star Game player. He set new career highs that season with 58 assists and 98 points.

In the 2024-25 season, Nylander scored a career-high 45 goals.

Playing for Sweden

Even though William Nylander was born in Canada, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) decided on 12 November 2012, that he could play for Sweden in international games.

• He played for the Sweden under-18 team at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He had eight assists, which was the most in the tournament, and helped his team win a gold medal.
• In the 2014 World U18 Championships, Nylander was a top 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 his first game for the senior Swedish team at the 2017 World Championship. The Swedish team won gold. He led his team in scoring with 14 points in 10 games and was named the tournament's MVP (Most Valuable Player).

Before the 2024-25 NHL season, Nylander was one of the first six players chosen to play for Team Sweden at the 4-Nations Face-Off tournament. He finished that tournament with two assists.

Nylander was also one of the first six players named to compete for Team Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

William Nylander's Family Life

Nylander was born in Calgary, Canada, because his father, Michael Nylander, was playing for the Calgary Flames hockey team 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 while his father played for different NHL teams. During the summers, he would spend time in Sweden. His family later moved to Sweden when he was 14 years old.

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

Awards and Achievements