Do you consider Nylander a "lock" for the NHL now? What's his floor/ceiling?

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Nylander may be better than Backstrom *this coming season*. Backstrom is not a terribly productive #1C, nor particularly good at shot suppression. Nylander has outperformed Backstrom at the same age from 18 years old on.

He's actually been extermely productive 5 70+ point seasons one of which is 100+ Points

If Nylander turns out to Backstrom Leaf fans should be doing backflips

 

[I Believe]

Definite lock for the NHL.

Looked better as the season went on, finished very strong. Thrilled that we picked him.

 

[diceman934]

Nylander may be better than Backstrom *this coming season*. Backstrom is not a terribly productive #1C, nor particularly good at shot suppression. Nylander has outperformed Backstrom at the same age from 18 years old on.

A career PPG center is not productive.....

Nylander will not be better than Backstrom this year......

 

[Goose]

Nylander may be better than Backstrom *this coming season*. Backstrom is not a terribly productive #1C, nor particularly good at shot suppression. Nylander has outperformed Backstrom at the same age from 18 years old on.

What? Backstrom's D is solid, he can hit, and he's a PPG player over his 600+ game career. Yes, Ovie, but still. He's a Top 10 C in the league (and if you want to quibble with that, fine, but it's insane to say he lower than 13). If you think Nylander's going to become a Top 10 C in the league that's great, I love the optimism, but that's what it'll take to displace Backstrom.

 

[Randy Randerson]

His strength and shot have come a long way since the draft, had a few Kessel-esque moments last year beating unscreened goalies with wrist shots from further out than you would expect an NHL goalie to get beat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8hgL0PRbKQ

If he plays with good linemates, is a Markus Naslund type career (in terms of offensive output) reasonable as a ceiling?

 

[ForSpareParts*]

First he stated that he will score close to a PPG pace in his career and stated how he felt it would break down 30-50 and even used guy

Very clear when you read the post.

I disagree with the poster as I see him as a 50 to 60 point type player.

It's not very clear. You can't say that because there is no consensus on what he meant in his post. If he returns and edits his post using goals, assists, and points it might actually be clear.

You see Nylander as a 50 point player, so why can't I interpret his "30-50" as scoring 30-50 points in a season?

Perhaps he meant 30-50 goals per season?

 

[Mess]

Nylander may be better than Backstrom *this coming season*. Backstrom is not a terribly productive #1C, nor particularly good at shot suppression. Nylander has outperformed Backstrom at the same age from 18 years old on.

Nick Bäckström 652 games & 642 points = .98 PPG

Last year 75 games 20-50-70 points.

If Nylander becomes anything close to Nic it would be a grand slam home run pick.

 

[BigWilly]

No. Many of this interpret this as 30-50 points. Close to PPG means under, at, and over 80.

You actually think 30 goals? He is an absolute steal drafting him 8th overall.

That's your fault for not knowing what 30-50 means.. Pretty much everyone else does and stats are often represented that way on these boards.

I think Nylander will be a Logan Couture level player. And yes, with that shot, he has a good chance at scoring 30 in this league. Oh and just to clarify for the humantradeproposa, by '30' I mean 30 goals.

 

[UllmansTiger]

As locked as it gets, he'll be in the NHL next season.

Hard to say what his ceiling is but I wouldn't be surprised to see him around 70 points down the line somewhere. I mean, Matthews Marner and Nylander all on the same powerplay? In a couple years that could be pretty incredible.

 

[ACC1224]

Nylander may be better than Backstrom *this coming season*. Backstrom is not a terribly productive #1C, nor particularly good at shot suppression. Nylander has outperformed Backstrom at the same age from 18 years old on.

Are you referring to Backstrom the player or Goalie?

If Nylander approaches the players output it will be a major achievement for him.

 

[Gary Nylund]

It's not very clear. You can't say that because there is no consensus on what he meant in his post. If he returns and edits his post using goals, assists, and points it might actually be clear.

You see Nylander as a 50 point player, so why can't I interpret his "30-50" as scoring 30-50 points in a season?

Perhaps he meant 30-50 goals per season?

You're right, you probably need to have it explained to you about 8 more times.

 

[Morgs]

Nylander's hair could score 30-50.

Yes, he's a lock.

 

[diceman934]

You're right, you probably need to have it explained to you about 8 more times.

I tried.....

 

[ForSpareParts*]

That's your fault for not knowing what 30-50 means.. Pretty much everyone else does and stats are often represented that way on these boards.

I think Nylander will be a Logan Couture level player. And yes, with that shot, he has a good chance at scoring 30 in this league. Oh and just to clarify for the humantradeproposa, by '30' I mean 30 goals.

2015-2016

Ovi 50
Kane 46
Benn 40
Tarasenko 38
Marchand 37
Crosby 36
Stamkos 36
Perry 34
Seguin 33
Tavares 33
Forsberg 33
Spezza 33
Bergeron 32
Simmonds 32
Neal 31
Toffoli 31
Saad 31
Gaudreau 30
Panarin 30
Kucherov 30
Pacioretty 30
Eriksson 30
Duchene 30
Palmeiri 30
Galchenyuk 30
Henrique 30
Jenner 30

28 players last year scoring 30 + goals. That is pretty optimistic to say that Nylander has a "good chance" at 30 goals. I would never casually say that any great NHLer has a good chance of scoring 30. Even Perry's 34 and Crosby's 36 didn't come easy. If you say he has a good chance though...

2016-2017

Ovi 50
Kane 46
Benn 40
Tarasenko 38
Marchand 37
Crosby 36
Stamkos 36
Perry 34
Seguin 33
Tavares 33
Forsberg 33
Spezza 33
Bergeron 32
Simmonds 32
Neal 31
Toffoli 31
Saad 31
Gaudreau 30
Panarin 30
Kucherov 30
Pacioretty 30
Eriksson 30
Duchene 30
Palmeiri 30
Galchenyuk 30
Henrique 30
Jenner 30
Nylander 30

 

[Trapper]

Nylander may be better than Backstrom *this coming season*. Backstrom is not a terribly productive #1C, nor particularly good at shot suppression. Nylander has outperformed Backstrom at the same age from 18 years old on.

Do you mean Washington Capitals Nicklas Backstrom?
Games Played: 652
Goals: 165
Assists: 477
Points: 642
PPG: .098

 

[Menzinger]

He out up a near 50 point pace as a rookie and didn't look over his head. I doubt he becomes a middling guy (ie 40ish points) he'll either be a top player or flat out bust - and I know which side id bet on happening.

I expect he will be a PPG player in his prime. He's my #2 on the Leafs prospect ranking (yes, ahead of Marner).

I flinch every time I see generic trade propsals trying to flip him.

 

[Once]

Nylander will be a 20-30 player next year.

50 points to clear up the non sense you guys are arguing over.

Dude's vision is prime, his positioning is already something we haven't seen in a while from a Leaf's player. Shot is already elite. He is JACKED now, has been training very hard.

Also, he has that persona that can really push past his boundaries. I think with Matthews and Marner stealing some spotlight, Willie will thrive more and push himself to the best of his ability.

 

[Fogelhund]

How bad is it for Leaf Nation, that we have just picked the #1 overall pick, and realistically, any three of our top prospects could be the top point scoring rookie for us?

I don't know how Babcock is going to spread these players out. It really depends on the chemistry they have with each other. Will Babcock have the three best guys on the same line, or split them up, to have two dangerous lines? Will he combine them on the PP, or again, split them up? (of course I'm talking the long-term future here)

 

[HockeyGuruPitka]

I watched a game in an hour the other day where Willie made a couple of sweet feeds to a couple of guys (I think PA Paranteau was one, cant remember the other) and all I could think of is if he was making that pass to Auston Matthews, that'd be a goal.

I cant wait to see what this kid does in the NHL!

At least twice he made beautiful passes to Greening, that should have been tap ins but Greening managed to miss.

He's a lock to play in the NHL next season, due to a numbers game he may start the year in the minors to give them opportunities to look at other players that may need to clear waivers or get sent down to junior.

However this only happens if he doesnt blow them away. If he comes out flying then hes making the team out of the gate.

 

[Advanced stats]

So you want Kadri to be better than he's ever shown the ability to be

Sure no reason a 25 year old can't improve by 5-10 points on his 45/50 point season as his quality of linemates gets better and he gets older.

He's 25, just peaking on his prime for crying out loud.

 

[TheProspector]

Nik Backstrom's point totals are inflated from playing the PP with Ovechkin. He doesn't even get that many primary points on the PP. 5v5, Willie had a higher primary point/60 last season as a 19 year old. Playing with scrubs.

Just imagine how productive he'll be at 23-24, playing with Auston and Mitch.

 

[IWD]

I think it's one of three options:

Bust
Low-end top 6: Consistent 40-55 point player, PP specialist
Top-line Forward: 60-80 point forward, good in all situations

It's hard to gauge whether he'll be a two way force, however, he's young and has potential. I have to say he's the most deceptive player in our system in terms of stealing pucks for the opposition

A consistent 60 point producer would be great. I feel like the coaching staff is making a better effort at instilling a defensive system, and that Nylander could be a beneficiary while developing his two-way game.

 

[Lebanese Leaf]

So you want Kadri to be better than he's ever shown the ability to be

Granted he's never hit 55 points, it would not be his personal best pace. Let's not forget Kadri put up 44 in the lockout shortened 48 game season. Would not surprise me to see him crack 60 points.

 

[TeamBester]

One of the best prospects in the game, hard not to have high hopes and expect more than 50 points a year from him.

 

[ACC1224]

At least twice he made beautiful passes to Greening, that should have been tap ins but Greening managed to miss.

He's a lock to play in the NHL next season, due to a numbers game he may start the year in the minors to give them opportunities to look at other players that may need to clear waivers or get sent down to junior.

However this only happens if he doesnt blow them away. If he comes out flying then hes making the team out of the gate.

IMO, Nylander will never play another game in the AHL.