Nylander played centre in Sweden, played centre in the AHL. He’s a strong skater, strong on the puck and is the best Leaf at entering the o-zone with possession.
Leafs have two similar RW that are incredible at distributing the puck (Marner & Domi) so in theory it makes sense to have them each play complement to a C that can control play and shoot at an elite level.
Natural_Treat_1437
Doesn’t matter where Willy plays .He’s an all-star hockey player. He’s got willy-stile. It’s worth every penny. Go leafs
DKM_Eby
Let’s hope someone’s coaching him on how to properly back check in that position
kingex11
Time will tell if this lasts or not. But it’s unusual. Hard to see it lasting beyond pre season.
Dubsified
I liked Domi at C so don’t know if this changes things. But Willy will thrive wherever he plays.
Showtime98
I prefer him on the wing obviously but putting him on centre spreads the wing options out more so Im down
re10pect
I think it’s probably too far into his career for a permanent switch to center to be all that effective, but if they are going to try this again, they had better do it right for once. Give him at least 30 games at center and see how it goes, and not just a game or two here or there and then acting surprised it didn’t pan out.
It’s not like the regular season is make or break, this team should have the talent to get to the playoffs regardless of who is playing center, so let them work the kinks out instead of switching as soon as some trouble starts.
CancerFreeLeafs
Reminds me of that square peg round hole meme
cvfn4
Great skater. Great puck transporter. Stud. Fills a need. Let’s give them some run. I like it.
oryes
I like it. Even if it doesn’t work out it’s good to see them experimenting early in the season to find something that works.
Nylander is making that type of money so maybe this is the change he needs to get him to bring full effort every night.
OneNutPhil
Love it
PretendQuote_
As long as it’s an actual attempt. Hate it when people say here we go again, keefe would only give him like 1-2 games at C and then call it a day. Horrible sample size, give him 4-5 at least unless it’s an absolute disaster.
UncleTrapspringer
Hey I’ve seen this one before!
Stevet159
This is dumb. He was 10th in scoring, if we wanted a 2C we should of traded him or Marner for Duchane, Fiala, Nelson and saved 5 million on the cap.
Frigging sport car in a snowstorm all over again.
LeafiestOutcome
Game 6 of the first round is starting early this year.
Snarglefrazzle
God I want this to work. I mean, it hasn’t yet, but I’d really love to get Tavares out of the 2C spot, either to play 2LW with Nylander and Marner or as the 3C.
Mashdrop
How good is Nylander at faceoffs?
emaginutiv
Knies – Matthews – Domi
McMann – Nylander – Marner
Robertson – Tavares – Jarnkrok
Patches – Cowan – Holmberg
Lorentz/Reeves
?
clapperssailing
Good luck with that mess..
Last few years he has shown more than flighty interest in the game so maybe 5th times a charm.
This is more to address there is no fixing his corner work. He wouldn’t take a hit to save his mother.
Here’s hoping
0h-Canada
They tried this before and it didn’t work…
moabthecrab
Welp, here we go again I guess.
JamesCurtis24
This M’fer is getting paid 11.5M.
Unless he’s going to score 50 goals, or net 110+ points, he better learn to play #2 C effectively REAL quick.
40g and 98p as a winger isn’t really going to cut it for me tbh.
Due_Journalist_2398
Wait, start the season? Or start the pre season? And what about jt?
whatamidoing_2521
Ahh get this annual nonsense out of the way nice and early.
twoplustwo_5
He isn’t a centre. Not a 200 foot player and a defensively minded forward. This experiment won’t last long, again.
Hadokuv
You basically need to staple Jankrok to his wing cus he is barely a defensively responsible winger. Ramp up his responsibilities at center and you’ll see why the experiment never works long term.
leafsfan96
give him winger that make sense and some legit runway. Right now there is a hole a 3C, this would fix that and give us an elite 1-3 if it works. Then Domi/Holmberg/Dewar can play spot duty at C if there are injuries and Kampf is a good 4C.
From there they can improve elsewhere at the TDL as needed (maybe another middle 6 forward or RHD pker assuming Jani can’t play)
riko77can
What’s this… like the 3rd or 4th time we’ve tried this?
RudeVegetable
I understand we lack centre depth, and I understand Willy is big and strong, but I am skeptical. Willy’s greatest strengths are creating offense by carrying the puck with speed, driving the net, zone entries, etc. Winger stuff. I guess they think he is just so good at stuff that he will do the centre stuff well too, and it is more important. I hope they are right.
40 Comments
Regular season is ok to experiment. I remember watching Marner last season impress when he was playing a defenseman lol.
In terms of opinions about this I have no opinions about this
Also added Domi would be on his wing.
Honey wake up, new “were trying nylander at centre” has arrived
Alex nylander rw
I’m all for this as long as we actually give him some time to adapt and don’t make it like a 2 game tryout before moving him back to wing
Does this shift Tavares to Wing or is he third line C?
😬
On one hand he’s certainly paid as though he should defend. On the other hand, he absolutely can’t.
So willy 3rd line, orrrrrrr…
Certainly you’re not bumping JT to third. That’d be dumb and reminiscent of the same mistake we made with Kadri as 3c.
What does this mean for domi and mitch? I don’t like either with Nylander, and they can’t both play with auston.
puzzling move.
Interesting how things end up unfolding…
A trade still seems very likely…
* Knies- Matthews – Marner
* Domi – Nylander – Robertson
* McMann – Tavares – Jarnkrok
* Dewar – Kampf – Holmberg
**PTO:** Pacioretty & Lorentz
**Not Waiver Exempt:** Reaves, Steeves & Abruzzese
**Waiver Exempt Of Note:** Cowen & Minten
Nylander played centre in Sweden, played centre in the AHL. He’s a strong skater, strong on the puck and is the best Leaf at entering the o-zone with possession.
Leafs have two similar RW that are incredible at distributing the puck (Marner & Domi) so in theory it makes sense to have them each play complement to a C that can control play and shoot at an elite level.
Doesn’t matter where Willy plays .He’s an all-star hockey player. He’s got willy-stile. It’s worth every penny. Go leafs
Let’s hope someone’s coaching him on how to properly back check in that position
Time will tell if this lasts or not. But it’s unusual. Hard to see it lasting beyond pre season.
I liked Domi at C so don’t know if this changes things. But Willy will thrive wherever he plays.
I prefer him on the wing obviously but putting him on centre spreads the wing options out more so Im down
I think it’s probably too far into his career for a permanent switch to center to be all that effective, but if they are going to try this again, they had better do it right for once. Give him at least 30 games at center and see how it goes, and not just a game or two here or there and then acting surprised it didn’t pan out.
It’s not like the regular season is make or break, this team should have the talent to get to the playoffs regardless of who is playing center, so let them work the kinks out instead of switching as soon as some trouble starts.
Reminds me of that square peg round hole meme
Great skater. Great puck transporter. Stud. Fills a need. Let’s give them some run. I like it.
I like it. Even if it doesn’t work out it’s good to see them experimenting early in the season to find something that works.
Nylander is making that type of money so maybe this is the change he needs to get him to bring full effort every night.
Love it
As long as it’s an actual attempt. Hate it when people say here we go again, keefe would only give him like 1-2 games at C and then call it a day. Horrible sample size, give him 4-5 at least unless it’s an absolute disaster.
Hey I’ve seen this one before!
This is dumb. He was 10th in scoring, if we wanted a 2C we should of traded him or Marner for Duchane, Fiala, Nelson and saved 5 million on the cap.
Frigging sport car in a snowstorm all over again.
Game 6 of the first round is starting early this year.
God I want this to work. I mean, it hasn’t yet, but I’d really love to get Tavares out of the 2C spot, either to play 2LW with Nylander and Marner or as the 3C.
How good is Nylander at faceoffs?
Knies – Matthews – Domi
McMann – Nylander – Marner
Robertson – Tavares – Jarnkrok
Patches – Cowan – Holmberg
Lorentz/Reeves
?
Good luck with that mess..
Last few years he has shown more than flighty interest in the game so maybe 5th times a charm.
This is more to address there is no fixing his corner work. He wouldn’t take a hit to save his mother.
Here’s hoping
They tried this before and it didn’t work…
Welp, here we go again I guess.
This M’fer is getting paid 11.5M.
Unless he’s going to score 50 goals, or net 110+ points, he better learn to play #2 C effectively REAL quick.
40g and 98p as a winger isn’t really going to cut it for me tbh.
Wait, start the season? Or start the pre season? And what about jt?
Ahh get this annual nonsense out of the way nice and early.
He isn’t a centre. Not a 200 foot player and a defensively minded forward. This experiment won’t last long, again.
You basically need to staple Jankrok to his wing cus he is barely a defensively responsible winger. Ramp up his responsibilities at center and you’ll see why the experiment never works long term.
give him winger that make sense and some legit runway. Right now there is a hole a 3C, this would fix that and give us an elite 1-3 if it works. Then Domi/Holmberg/Dewar can play spot duty at C if there are injuries and Kampf is a good 4C.
From there they can improve elsewhere at the TDL as needed (maybe another middle 6 forward or RHD pker assuming Jani can’t play)
What’s this… like the 3rd or 4th time we’ve tried this?
I understand we lack centre depth, and I understand Willy is big and strong, but I am skeptical. Willy’s greatest strengths are creating offense by carrying the puck with speed, driving the net, zone entries, etc. Winger stuff. I guess they think he is just so good at stuff that he will do the centre stuff well too, and it is more important. I hope they are right.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DrblfKREj50o&ved=2ahUKEwjts-Ofj82IAxVc5MkDHZ8LOyMQwqsBegQIEBAG&usg=AOvVaw3V3rhNfYMwkxi1NZn2CpgI
So is Tavares 3C?