With the Leafs (hopefully) back to their winning ways, it’s time for another Gazette Player of the Week. This week’s choice is hard: many players had a good game or two, but throughout the three game losing streak there not one player played particularly well (possibly excluding goalie Anthony Stolarz). However, I feel good about giving the Gazette Player of the Week to William Nylander this time around.
Nylander was a monster in last week’s game against Tampa Bay, scoring twice and assisting another in a statement win. Like the rest of the team, he was largely invisible against Columbus, though he did avoid going minus in the +/- chart, a modest achievement in a blowout loss. He failed to record a point the next two games, as well, in a letdown against the Blues and a hard-fought loss to the Bruins, before getting back on the scoresheet against the Jets with a goal and two assists, including an absolutely stunning no look pass to Morgan Rielly for the Leafs fourth goal of the night.
All in all, since last Monday, Nylander compiled 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points in 5 games. With the entire team generally struggling, he’s the logical choice to me, but the team needs better individual performances than this to move ahead in the standings.