Leafs Forward William Nylander Slams Coach Craig Berube for Reduced Ice Time

Compared to last year, William Nylander's ice time has significantly decreased this season. Under head coach Craig Berube of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he is playing an average of roughly two fewer minutes per game this season. Through the first ten games of the 2024-25 season, Nylander's average time per game has decreased to 18:01 from 19:55 the previous season. Nylander and Berube have reportedly spoken extensively with one another both before and after the on-ice sessions, and they have discussed this.

According to reports, they talked about Nylander's ice time. Nylander's role has been diminished by Berube, especially in managing the team's penalty kill. Berube has chosen to switch up Nylander's spot on the penalty kill by using players such as superstar forward Auston Matthews because the Leafs have taken an excessive number of penalties this season. Nylander isn't getting as much use on the kill as he did in previous seasons as a result.

The Leafs entered Thursday ranked fifth in times shorthanded with 41 penalties, making them one of the league's most penalized teams at the moment. As more time is devoted to special teams, this has probably contributed to Nylander's decline in overall ice time. Berube, who keeps experimenting with rotations in an attempt to find anything that might work for his team in dire circumstances, also made a tactical decision by taking Nylander off the ice on the penalty kill.

Considering how well his season began, Nylander had not scored in his previous three games going into Monday's matchup with the Jets. Nylander broke out of his season-long slump with a goal and two assists in a 6-4 Maple Leafs victory over Winnipeg, his first time playing with John Tavares and Max Pacioretty. This performance was encouraging for Nylander and the Leafs as they looked for ways to increase his offensive output following adjustments to his ice time.

Craig Berube has stated that he has nothing against Nylander standing up for himself, despite the fact that his decreased ice time may raise concerns. Nylander has four assists in the first ten games and leads the team in goals with six so far. Berube's message has focused on striking a balance between managing players' workloads and maintaining the team's competitiveness.