Much has been made of the pressure the Maple Leafs face playing in a major hockey market like Toronto, particularly after this year’s disappointing playoff exit against the Florida Panthers.
Blowout losses on home ice in Games 5 and 7 of the second round saw the fanbases’ frustrations spill over with boos and jerseys thrown onto the ice in a show of their disappointment.
That pressure of being a Toronto Maple Leaf can be difficult for players to handle; however, William Nylander has always been unfazed by it all, continuing to do his thing, producing in the biggest moments and on the biggest stage.
How is he able to block out all of the noise? The superstar winger spoke about it in an interview with SiriusXM NHL Network at the NHLPA European Player Media Tour.
“Yeah, I mean, I think people forget that we as players also want to win. So, I mean, I think we have our goal to want to go all the way. I’ve been playing there for a while, but I don’t know; I don’t really think about what other people say or what their opinion is on how we’re playing. We inside the locker room know what we need to do. It’s not an easy battle; you’ve got to appreciate the grind it takes when you eventually get to that point,” Nylander said.
🚨🎙️ William Nylander on the pressure of playing in toronto:
“Yeah, I mean, I think people forget that we as players also want to win. So, I mean, I think we have our goal to want to go all the way. I’ve been playing there for a while, but I don’t know, I don’t really think… pic.twitter.com/qD08Hdf5cd
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) August 25, 2025
The 29-year-old won’t be escaping the pressure anytime soon with seven years remaining on the eight-year, $92 million extension he signed with the Maple Leafs in 2024.
Nylander is a perfect fit for Toronto
Playing in Toronto isn’t for everyone, but that can’t be said for William Nylander. His laid-back personality, combined with the ability to back it up on the ice is exactly how you thrive in this market.
The Maple Leafs’ star players have taken a ton of flak for the team’s postseason failures, and rightfully so. There’s only one guy who’s managed to produce and actually elevate his game come the playoffs, and that’s number 88.
He will have an even bigger role moving forward without Mitch Marner, and if there’s anything we’ve learned about William Nylander, he’ll take the increased responsibility and flourish.
