William Nylander

[herman]

I think that a common Brooks comparison when he was drafted was Connor Brown. And I basically view Brooks with the same optimistic caution that I did with Brown during his junior career. I was happy with his results, but they didn't really mean much to me until he produced in the AHL.

It's worth pointing out too that Brown's 18 and 19 year junior season are actually a tad better statistically than Brooks' were. As 18-year olds it was 1.09 vs. 0.97 and as 19-year olds it was 1.88 vs. 1.67. As a 20-year old Brown led his AHL team in scoring while Brooks is running hog-wild in the WHL. Admittedly the comparison is a little tricky as Brown had McDavid with him as a 19-year old, but Brooks' 20-year old season has him on an absolutely dominant offensive team that actually sees him trailing Sam Steel by a few points.

But I think it's fair to say that if you compare their developments Brown has always either been slightly ahead of Brooks or roughly on par. If that holds, we should get a pretty effective middle-6 forward type player out of Adam Brooks. But Brown's biggest test came in his first AHL season, Brooks hasn't gotten that far yet. But if he does pass that like Brown did then we should get a pretty effective middle-6 type forward out of him. As far as 4th round picks go that's pretty good. But it's not really the type of player that makes a William Nylander expendable.

Yup.

I'd throw down some additional caveats too:
Brooks plays centre vs Brown on the wing so there is a bit of a responsibility/difficulty difference
Brooks plays in the WHL vs Brown in the OHL, where scoring is slightly crazier (not QMJHL crazy, but still)

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'd throw down some additional caveats too:
Brooks plays centre vs Brown on the wing (of McDavid for a little while)

This is true although I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see him switch to the wing in the NHL. Just a feeling.

 

[herman]

I'd throw down some additional caveats too:
Brooks plays centre vs Brown on the wing (of McDavid for a little while)

This is true although I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see him switch to the wing in the NHL. Just a feeling.

Assuming we don't dissolve our NHL centre depth (by TSNing Nylander), I think it'll start that way but shift back.

Brooks is more of a playmaker, with good defensive positioning, which makes more sense down the middle. There he can play the high trailer, so his straightaway speed deficiency is not as much a liability.

 

[Kin]

But I think it's fair to say that if you compare their developments Brown has always either been slightly ahead of Brooks or roughly on par. If that holds, we should get a pretty effective middle-6 forward type player out of Adam Brooks. But Brown's biggest test came in his first AHL season, Brooks hasn't gotten that far yet. But if he does pass that like Brown did then we should get a pretty effective middle-6 type forward out of him. As far as 4th round picks go that's pretty good. But it's not really the type of player that makes a William Nylander expendable.

I suppose I struggle to see the advantage in thinking any prospect is a sure thing before they establish themselves, let alone someone with Brooks' odds.

 

[Highlander]

Why don't we start a Brooks thread? Already wanting to jettison Nylander is crazy. He is still a boy-man. Wait till the frame fills out with 20lbs of lean muscle and he builds his game.  I think he is going to be scary good in about 3-4 years.

Your frankly unsettling interest in his physique aside, there's a legitimate chance Nylander remains a fairly slight player. The Leafs and the NHL have him listed at 190. It's not a certainty, or even a likelihood, that he puts on 20 pounds.

No worries Nik, I am a raging hetrosexual 8)  just saying that boys of 20 are different then men of 24

 

[Kin]

just saying that boys of 20 are different then men of 24

Yes, but you're also saying that Nylander will add 20 pounds. While it's not uncommon for a player to add 15-20 pounds after they're drafted as has been pointed out, Nylander has already either done most of that or all of that. Adding 30-40 pounds post draft is pretty uncommon, especially for a player who isn't 6'3 or so.

It is pretty unlikely that Nylander ever plays at 210 pounds.

 

[Highlander]

Thanks Nik, I guess you are good to go as the weight guesser at next years Ex.

 

[ZBBM]

Dude played at 250 tonight.


I'm not sure what that means.

 

[sickbeast]

Hopefully Nylander's performance tonight will shut up the haters for a bit.

 

[Arn]

Hopefully Nylander's performance tonight will shut up the haters for a bit.

Or raise his trade value

 

[herman]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMpLDdE7UlQ[/youtube]

He has a remarkably consistent celebration.

Not all heroes wear capes (and they really shouldn't).
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/mckenzie-doesn-t-think-nylander-is-on-the-trade-block~1049952

Bob McKenzie makes all the sense in the world.

 

[ZBBM]

What is telling is that McKenzie, like some other knowledgeable analysts, immediately draws a comparison to the Hawks.  Matthews is Toews, Marner Kane, and Nylander Hossa.  Why not be like Chicago?  I agree with him, those 3 are the core.

 

[Coco-puffs]

What is telling is that McKenzie, like some other knowledgeable analysts, immediately draws a comparison to the Hawks.  Matthews is Toews, Marner Kane, and Nylander Hossa.  Why not be like Chicago?  I agree with him, those 3 are the core.

I think the comparison to the Hawks is exciting for Leafs fans, in that they are a 3x Stanley Cup champion and pretty much as close to a dynasty as we'll ever see in the new NHL.  However, on a player level only the Marner-Kane comparison is close IMO (Marner already being better defensively though).

If Matthews becomes Toews it will be disappointing.  He's only topped 30 goals twice in his career.  Matthews *should* be 40+ per year.  On the defensive side of the puck, I'm not sure I'd compare them in style either.  Toews plays bigger than he is physically.  Matthews is less physical, but is Datsyuk-like in coming out of battles with the puck.  Matthews may change his game a bit physically as time goes on though. 

The Hossa-Nylander comparison is not one I'd make.  Nylander, while very good already, is a different player than Hossa.  Not saying he can't become more like him, but I wouldn't bet on it.  Hossa was always incredibly strong on the puck and played North-South much more.  Nylander is more sneaky when it comes to stealing the puck- less physical, but Hossa is one of the best ever two-way wingers IMO.  Plus, I do think Nylander plays center long term.

 

[Crucialness Key]

I look forward to the day when other teams are like "our rookies could be the next Matthews-Marner-Nylander!" 

 

[ZBBM]

What is telling is that McKenzie, like some other knowledgeable analysts, immediately draws a comparison to the Hawks.  Matthews is Toews, Marner Kane, and Nylander Hossa.  Why not be like Chicago?  I agree with him, those 3 are the core.

I think the comparison to the Hawks is exciting for Leafs fans, in that they are a 3x Stanley Cup champion and pretty much as close to a dynasty as we'll ever see in the new NHL.  However, on a player level only the Marner-Kane comparison is close IMO (Marner already being better defensively though).

If Matthews becomes Toews it will be disappointing.  He's only topped 30 goals twice in his career.  Matthews *should* be 40+ per year.  On the defensive side of the puck, I'm not sure I'd compare them in style either.  Toews plays bigger than he is physically.  Matthews is less physical, but is Datsyuk-like in coming out of battles with the puck.  Matthews may change his game a bit physically as time goes on though. 

The Hossa-Nylander comparison is not one I'd make.  Nylander, while very good already, is a different player than Hossa.  Not saying he can't become more like him, but I wouldn't bet on it.  Hossa was always incredibly strong on the puck and played North-South much more.  Nylander is more sneaky when it comes to stealing the puck- less physical, but Hossa is one of the best ever two-way wingers IMO.  Plus, I do think Nylander plays center long term.

Good observations, all.  & perhaps McKenzie would agree -- he may have been drawing a more general comparison, i.e. Toews & Matthews as 2-way leaders, Marner & Kane as scorers, Hossa & Nylander as secondary scorers (or what you will).

But I think you are quite correct in your 1-1 comps.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

After EVEN MORE talk about trading Nylander from TSN the past couple of days, Chris Johnson just comes in and dunks all over them:

It makes the nagging speculation about Nylander?s supposed availability on the trade market seem completely asinine.

You lose for years on end to assemble a crop of players like this. To then give up a cost-controlled 20-year-old winger who puts up points and drives possession immediately afterwards?

Either you?re getting a sure thing in return or you should be committed.

Rest assured, Leafs fans, there is no reason to doubt the sanity of Brendan Shanahan, Lou Lamoriello and the other men pulling the levers in the executive suite.

Nylander isn?t going anywhere. Not before March 1. Not for a lot longer than that, barring some unforeseeable change of events.

We?re talking about a guy who lead the American Hockey League in scoring as a teenager and is currently on pace for a 56-point rookie NHL season. That?s something just 15 others have managed in the last decade!

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/rest-assured-maple-leafs-fans-william-nylander-isnt-going-anywhere/

 

[CarltonTheBear]

For some context, yesterday Dreger brought up Nylander's name when it came to trading for 22-year old (soon to be 23-year old) defenceman Brandon Montour out of Anaheim.

 

[Coco-puffs]

For some context, yesterday Dreger brought up Nylander's name when it came to trading for 22-year old (soon to be 23-year old) defenceman Brandon Montour out of Anaheim.

Yeah I don't get it.  Its one thing when Leafs Lunch postulates trading him away to improve the defense- they are trying to generate discussion and get clicks from TSN.ca.  Its another when an "insider" postulates an even more lopsided trade than Hall-Larsson.

Furthermore, Anaheim is going to lose one of their NHL defensemen due to the expansion draft.  Not sure if it will be in the draft itself, or in a trade to recoup some assets.  It doesn't make any sense at all to trade an exempt player (from the exp. draft) that seems ready to step in and replace whomever they lose.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Furthermore, Anaheim is going to lose one of their NHL defensemen due to the expansion draft.  Not sure if it will be in the draft itself, or in a trade to recoup some assets.  It doesn't make any sense at all to trade an exempt player (from the exp. draft) that seems ready to step in and replace whomever they lose.

Yeah, I don't quite understand why there's any talk of him or Theodore being moved. At least at this point.

 

[bustaheims]

For some context, yesterday Dreger brought up Nylander's name when it came to trading for 22-year old (soon to be 23-year old) defenceman Brandon Montour out of Anaheim.

Now that Nonis is out of the picture, Dreger's back to being a garbage slinger.