The Nylander family has added another generation to the NHL, as William Nylander has been selected with the No. 8 overall pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
NHL Draft 2014: Toronto Maple Leafs select William Nylander with No. 8 overall pick
The Nylander family has added another generation to the NHL, as William Nylander has been selected with the No. 8 overall pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Dave Sandford
Nylander, 18, is the son of Michael Nylander, an NHL veteran who played in over 900 games with seven different clubs and is still playing professionally as a member of the Kloten Flyers in Switzerland's Swiss National League A.
William is a right-handed shooting forward prospect who is capable of playing both center and wing. Listed at 5’11, 181 lbs, Nylander registered seven points in 22 games with Modo of the Swedish Hockey League and 27 points over 35 games with Sodertalje SK and Rogle BK of HockeyAllsvenskan over the span of the 2013-14 season.
Nylander finished the year ranked second amongst European skaters, according to the year-end evaluation by the ISS. Praised for his skill, Nylander is viewed as a lethal offensive weapon, via the ISS:
Nylander is a waiting highlight reel to happen, incredible possession game for a player his size and has the puck on a string. Ability to make defenders look silly with his absolutely slick puckhandling and elite craftiness on the puck. Explosive skater as he skates in gears up ice, can burn any defenders at this level with his outside speed. Possession game is like glue, incredibly hard to separate him from the puck. A dangerous offensive dynamo anywhere in the offensive zone, eyes in the back of his head awareness and needs little room to get pucks on net. Good motor on both sides of the puck. Flawless skater and stride. Led the way for Sweden at the U18 World Championships where he was an unstoppable offensive force and seemed to create every shift. Size and strength need improvement
Nylander has represented Sweden on multiple occasions and compiled an impressive performance in the 2013-14 U18 World Junior Championship where he recorded 16 points in seven games. He also registered six points in four games during the Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
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