It took only three games. Three games into the 2025-26 campaign for the first major controversy to ignite within the Toronto Maple Leafs’ ecosystem. Following a pair of frustrating losses to the Detroit Red Wings that dropped the team to a 1-2-0 record, the spotlight has swung away from team-wide execution and focused squarely on the performance—or lack thereof—of star winger William Nylander. The concern isn’t just about early-season jitters; it’s a pointed critique of effort, intensity, and engagement from a player now in the second season of a colossal eight-year, $92 million contract.
The Coach’s Clarion Call
The opening salvo came directly from the bench. Head Coach Craig Berube, not one to mince words, publicly challenged his $11.5 million forward following Monday’s 3-2 loss. In a candid post-game assessment, Berube made it clear that the team’s expectations for Nylander were not being met.
Previously on the EDGE – Maple Leafs’ Flawed Opening Night Victory: Rielly’s Renaissance & Berube’s Blueprint
“It’s not enough,” Berube stated, cutting straight to the core of the issue. The coach’s critique wasn’t aimed at a lack of talent—he acknowledged the “trademark skating and puck control” that Nylander possesses in spades. The problem was consistency and, more specifically, a tangible lack of aggression. Berube demanded more from the 29-year-old winger: attack the net, drive the play, and most fundamentally, shoot the puck. For a coach known for his emphasis on hard-nosed, direct hockey, Nylander’s perimeter-oriented play through the opening week was clearly a point of friction.
This public call-out is a significant move by a coach just starting his tenure with the team’s core. It signals that the grace period is over and that marquee players will be held to the highest standard, regardless of their salary or status.
Amplifying the Message
If Berube’s comments were a targeted message, the subsequent analysis from the media was a megaphone. Former Maple Leaf Jay Rosehill was particularly blunt in his evaluation, shifting the focus from on-ice tactics to attitude. Describing Nylander’s “intensity” and “effort level” as “s**t,” Rosehill suggested the star’s on-ice demeanour projected a “lackadaisical attitude towards the game.”
“It’s beneath you to try,” Rosehill posited, articulating a sentiment that has often been whispered but rarely shouted by frustrated segments of the fanbase. His critique highlighted a crucial piece of context: with Mitch Marner in Vegas, the onus is on the remaining offensive leaders to elevate their games. Rosehill’s assessment implied that Nylander was not only failing to do so but was appearing disengaged in the process.
By The Numbers: A Tale of Two Superstars
The criticism from both the coach and the analyst is not without a statistical foundation. A deeper look at Nylander’s performance metrics through the first three games reveals a startling lack of offensive aggression, particularly when it comes to his primary function as a goal-scorer.
Over the first three contests, Nylander registered a paltry three shots on goal. The breakdown is even more concerning:
- Just one shot in the opening night loss to Montreal.
- Zero shots on goal in 21:13 of ice time during the first loss to Detroit.
- Two shots in the second game against the Red Wings.
This output is a dramatic departure from his established standard. Last season, Nylander led the Maple Leafs with 45 goals on 253 shots, and he has consistently averaged over three shots per game for several years. To put his current numbers in perspective, superstar teammate Auston Matthews had already fired 15 shots on goal through the same three-game span. While Nylander did manage to find the scoresheet, registering four points (one goal, three assists), his passivity in the offensive zone and a combined minus-3 rating in the two losses to Detroit tell a more complete story. A player can accumulate secondary assists, but goals often come from direct, assertive action—the very thing his coach is demanding.
Context is King
Of course, no player operates in a vacuum. Several mitigating factors are at play in Nylander’s slow start. He is adjusting to new linemates, skating primarily with John Tavares and Bobby McMann, with Matias Maccelli also seeing time on the unit. The absence of Marner has undeniably altered the offensive chemistry and forced new combinations into high-leverage situations. Furthermore, the top power-play unit, on which Nylander is a key fixture, has yet to find the back of the net this season.
Berube himself acknowledged these challenges, noting that he and Nylander have an open line of communication. He understands that skilled players like Nylander “need the puck in their hands” to feel integrated and effective. This suggests the public comments are less an outright condemnation and more a strategic “wake-up call.”
This sentiment was echoed by Tavares, who came to his teammate’s defence. Praising Nylander’s character, Tavares expressed confidence that the winger would be his own harshest critic. “He will look at himself in the mirror and know that he can do more and he can play better,” Tavares told reporters. He also highlighted the very trait that sometimes draws criticism—Nylander’s famously laid-back personality—as a key reason for his success in the high-pressure Toronto market, citing his ability to “brush off negativity.”
The consensus seems to be that the organization believes Nylander is mentally resilient enough to handle this public push. It’s a calculated gamble, designed to motivate a supremely talented player to unlock the consistent, aggressive edge that separates the great from the elite. The message has been sent. How William Nylander responds on the ice will be the only answer that truly matters.
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