William Nylander Discusses Maple Leafs’ Playoff Aspirations Amidst Struggles

William Nylander, like many of his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates, is grappling with a sense of dejection as the season winds down. For Nylander, who along with Auston Matthews and a select few has never faced the prospect of missing the NHL playoffs, the current state of affairs is uncharted territory. The Maple Leafs find themselves 11 points adrift of a playoff spot with just 18 games left in the season and have fallen into a troubling slump, losing their last seven outings since the Olympic break. In total, they have dropped 13 of their last 16 games, a stretch that began on January 13 against the Utah Mammoth.

“I mean, hard to really stay optimistic in this situation,” Nylander admitted on Tuesday, just before the Maple Leafs were set to face off against the Montreal Canadiens. “But yeah, just try to get a win.” This season has been particularly challenging for Nylander, who has missed 17 games due to a persistent groin injury. Additionally, he faced disappointment at the Winter Olympics in Milan, where he and Team Sweden were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the United States, a team that included his Maple Leafs teammate, Matthews.

Despite the setbacks, Nylander remains a bright spot for Toronto, leading the team with 21 goals and 59 points in 47 games this season. However, for the first time in his career, his season will conclude in mid-April, while many of his peers prepare for the postseason. “At the beginning there, after the break, it was a lot of frustration and everything,” Nylander reflected. “But now, I mean, it’s not going to help being frustrated. I think the mood in the locker room has changed a little bit, and I think that’s made it a better environment for everybody.”

Amidst the turmoil, there is a glimmer of hope for the Maple Leafs. They still possess core players like Matthews, Nylander, and John Tavares, who can help steer the team back towards contention. Even Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper has expressed belief that this season’s struggles are an anomaly for Toronto. When asked about the future, Nylander responded, “I sure hope that’s the case. Otherwise… yeah.”

Matthews also shared his perspective after a recent practice, noting that he sees a pathway back to contention. “Yeah, of course. I mean, I remember the Lightning missed the playoffs one year, and then the next year they’re back at the top of the division competing. I look at a team like Boston this year that had a down year, and same thing, like they’re in the mix,” he said. “Sometimes that happens, and we’ve been fortunate to be in the playoffs for the last nine years or so. And you kind of hope that it’s a one-off and we can continue to build and continue to be in contention. Obviously, the focus is on right now and trying to get our game back and trying to get in the win column. But obviously, it’s something you think about.”

This predicament is unfamiliar for several Maple Leafs players, many of whom are determined to avoid a repeat of this experience. While fans may be inclined to hope for a bottom-of-the-standings finish for draft positioning, head coach Craig Berube and his players are likely focused on a different trajectory. “I mean, [Nylander has] always been in [the playoffs] and it’s new for him, for sure. But, you know, every player and team goes through adversity at one point in their career, and this is some adversity that he’s normally not used to. And like I said, he’s got to work his way out of it,” Berube emphasized.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.