William Nylander is a Swedish-Canadian ice hockey right-winger playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. William was born on May 1, 1996, in Calgary, Canada. In 2009, He played in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Tournament with the New York Rangers and showcased his talent there. He debuted in the Allsvenskan league in 2023 and played alongside his father, Michael Nylander, with the Södertälje SK team.
William gained valuable experience while in the league and polished his skills. William became the top candidate for the 2014 NHL Entry draft for his impressive offensive strength and extraordinary puck-handling skills. However, there were concerns about his defensive abilities and small stature of 5 feet 9 inches. Despite concerns, the Toronto Maples Leafs identified William’s skills and drafted him in the first round of the 2014 NHL entry draft.
William Nylander’s career
William signed a three-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014 and made an impressive entry during the pre-season game against the Philadelphia Flyers. He officially played his first game in the NHL on February 26, 2016, against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the age of 19. William hit his first NHL goal on March 5, 2016, against the Ottawa Senators. Soon, he became one of the significant players in the Maple Leafs. On October 12, 2016, he assisted his mate Matthews to hit two goals. In 2016, William was named NHL Rookie of the Month for an impressive performance in October month. Despite struggling in collecting scores, he helped the Maple Leafs reach the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs by contributing 61 points. Unfortunately, the Leafs lost against the Washington Capitals.
In the 2017-18, William played with Auston Matthews and Zach Hyman and formed a strong line. However, he did not score for 11 games but ended with an overtime goal against the New Jersey Devils. He finished the season with 61 points. In the playoff series, he contributed one goal and three assists but were eliminated by the Boston Bruins. In the following seasons, William's performance significantly improved; he collected 31 goals and 28 assists in 68 games before the COVID-19 pandemic breakout.
William Nylander’s contract
William Nylander is under contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 2023-24 season and is set to earn a salary of $6,000,000 with a cap hit of $6,962,366. He will get $3,500,000 as a signing amount and $2,500,000 as a base salary. He was selected by the Maple Leafs in the 2014 NHL Entry draft and signed two contracts since then.
At the entry level, he signed a three-year contract with the Maple Leafs worth $5,232,500. In 2018, he signed another contract with the Toronto Maples Leafs for six years worth $45,000,000. The total value of his contracts is $50,232,500. William will become a free agent after the 2023-24 season.
William Nylander’s family
William Nylander belongs to a close-knit, hockey-loving family. His father, Micheal Nylander, played with several teams and had a successful NHL career. William's younger brother, Alexander Nylander, plays with the Chicago Blackhawks. Growing up in an athletic family, he developed an interest in hockey at a young age. William has great taste in fashion and styling outside of sports and often catches fans' attention.
FAQs
A. William Nylander’s current contract is an eight-year extension from 2024 to 2031.
A. William Nylander is 28 years old.
A. William Nylander is getting paid an average annual salary of $11,500,000 under his current contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
A. William Nylander currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
A. William Nylander is a right winger.