William Nylander
ON-ICE VALUE
Top-Six Forward
STRENGTHS
Skating: Nylander is an outstanding skater who can pull away from or dance around defenders without breaking a sweat. His combination of pure wheels, great lateral agility and strong edges allows him to navigate through the neutral zone very effectively. Few forwards are better at gaining controlled zone entries.
Puck-Handling: He seldom tries to dangle through opponents, but his ability to keep the puck away from them is undeniable. He simply has a knack for carrying the biscuit and can stick-handle his way around almost any situation. It’s almost like the puck is glued to his tape at times.
Dual Threat: After starting his career as more of a pass-first player, Nylander has emerged as a proper dual threat. He possesses a hellacious wrist shot and displays great hands in tight, as he’s developed the good habit of playing closer to the action. With that said, his vision and passing touch remain superb.
WEAKNESSES
Engagement Level: He handles himself reasonably well in the trenches. In fact, he’s most productive from there. However, his willingness to enter the dirty areas fluctuates from shift to shift. Even though he’s added a fair bit of mass over the years, he sometimes appears downright terrified of physical contact.
Defense: Nylander’s strongest defensive contributions come in the form of puck possession. In his zone, things can get ugly. He frequently loses his angle on point men or gets confused as to which player he should pick up during scrambles. He’s well below average in his end.
