Craig Berube Drops Major Truth Bomb About Leafs Winger William Nylander
Photo credit: Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has developed a special bond with winger William Nylander, and he spoke about that on the 'Nasty Knuckles' podcast.
William Nylander is coming off the best season of his professional career, as he finished with 45 goals and 84 points.
This was his first season with Craig Berube as his head coach, and there is no denying that it was a special one. Although it did take Berube a while to get warmed up to Willy's personality.
Nylander has proven to be a free spirit, but this freeness has allowed him to be a top performer in big moments. In fact, the winger had 15 points in 13 playoff games.
Craig Berube explains William Nylander's greatness
While speaking to the 'Nasty Knuckles' podcast, Craig Berube was asked about Nylander and the type of guy he is.
Overall, it made for a great answer, as the head coach explained just how special a player the Swedish winger is.
The coach even recounted a story that will make you see just how important Nylander is to the DNA of the Maple Leafs.
He's as skilled as I've coached any player. His ability it's hard to explain.
He has an unreal knack of stripping guys of the puck, and the ability to put the puck from his skate to his stick; all the little stuff.
That goal in the playoffs against Florida, Pacioretty made the pass, he had to take the puck, and the way he got it up over the goalie, that's hard to do.
He's great that way, he's so fast and so good on his skates. It's crazy, you know. He's a good teammate, a good guy. He wants to win, like all of us.
There's always things to improve upon and demands of him like other guys, but he's quite the guy.
Muscle shirt, earrings, hair all over. It's funny. He'll always say, 'You lost me in the first,' and I ask, 'What are you talking about?' and he says, 'Well, I need a lot of ice time to get going.'
One time, he had a point-blank chance, and he missed. I said to him, 'You shot it right in the goalie's glove, why didn't you try and put it over him?'
He flat out said 'Well, I just wasn't warmed up enough yet.' I'm looking at him thinking 'What a beauty!'
He has an unreal knack of stripping guys of the puck, and the ability to put the puck from his skate to his stick; all the little stuff.
That goal in the playoffs against Florida, Pacioretty made the pass, he had to take the puck, and the way he got it up over the goalie, that's hard to do.
He's great that way, he's so fast and so good on his skates. It's crazy, you know. He's a good teammate, a good guy. He wants to win, like all of us.
There's always things to improve upon and demands of him like other guys, but he's quite the guy.
Muscle shirt, earrings, hair all over. It's funny. He'll always say, 'You lost me in the first,' and I ask, 'What are you talking about?' and he says, 'Well, I need a lot of ice time to get going.'
One time, he had a point-blank chance, and he missed. I said to him, 'You shot it right in the goalie's glove, why didn't you try and put it over him?'
He flat out said 'Well, I just wasn't warmed up enough yet.' I'm looking at him thinking 'What a beauty!'
Ultimately, the Toronto Maple Leafs are a great team and William Nylander makes them better.
While the expectation is that the Leafs lose some guys this summer, Nylander is here to stay for the long haul.
Hopefully, he takes another leap next season and we see him approach 50 goals alongside Auston Matthews.
| POLL | ||
MAI 31 | 665 ANSWERS Craig Berube Drops Major Truth Bomb About Leafs Winger William Nylander Is William Nylander the best player on the Toronto Maple Leafs right now? | ||
| YES | 349 | 52.5 % |
| NO | 316 | 47.5 % |
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