William Nylander Bio
William Andrew Michael Junior Nylander Altelius, known professionally as William Nylander, is a Swedish professional ice hockey player born on May 1, 1996, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He plays as a forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) and is recognized across the league for his offensive skill, speed, and creative playmaking. Selected eighth overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, he has since become one of the franchise’s most productive stars. Nicknamed “Willy Styles,” Nylander has represented Sweden at multiple international tournaments and won gold at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, where he was also named tournament MVP.
Early Life and Background
William Nylander was born in Calgary, Alberta, on May 1, 1996, while his father, Michael Nylander, was playing for the Calgary Flames. He grew up in a hockey household and holds dual citizenship in both Sweden and Canada. Because his father played for several NHL teams during his career, William spent much of his youth in the United States while spending summers back in Sweden. He developed his early hockey skills in both countries, gaining exposure to different styles of play from a young age.
Nylander has five siblings, including his younger brother Alexander Nylander, who was also selected eighth overall in the NHL Draft and later joined William with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Nylander family eventually moved back to Sweden when William was 14, and he continued his development in the Swedish hockey system. This international upbringing shaped his well-rounded game and prepared him for the demands of professional hockey on both sides of the Atlantic.
Path to Hockey
Nylander began attracting attention as a youth player and competed in the 2009 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament as a member of a New York Rangers minor team. He continued progressing through the Swedish junior ranks and made his professional debut on February 14, 2013, with Södertälje SK in the HockeyAllsvenskan league, playing alongside his father Michael and recording an assist in his first game. He later joined MODO Hockey of the Swedish Hockey League, where he played 20 minutes per night as a teenager and showcased the offensive instincts that made him a top prospect.
Heading into the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Nylander was widely regarded as one of the most skilled players available, earning praise for his puck-handling, vision, and skating. The Toronto Maple Leafs selected him eighth overall, and he was signed to a three-year entry-level contract on August 18, 2014. The Leafs assigned him to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, midway through the 2014-15 season, where he posted 32 points in 37 games and helped the team reach the Calder Cup playoffs.
William Nylander Career
Early Career (2013-2016)
Nylander made his NHL debut on February 29, 2016, against the Tampa Bay Lightning at age 19 and quickly showed he belonged at the highest level. He scored his first NHL goal on March 5, 2016, against the Ottawa Senators, with the assist coming from Brooks Laich, who had also assisted his father Michael on his final NHL goal. That symbolic connection highlighted the family legacy Nylander was beginning to extend into the modern NHL era.
Following his brief debut season, Nylander made the Maple Leafs roster full-time for the 2016-17 campaign and was placed on a line with Auston Matthews and Zach Hyman. He was named NHL Rookie of the Month for October 2016 after recording 11 points in nine games and later scored his first NHL hat trick on February 4, 2017, against the Boston Bruins. He finished his rookie year with 61 points and helped Toronto qualify for the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs Breakthrough (2016-2019)
Nylander continued to develop as a top-six forward during the 2017-18 season, recording another 61-point campaign and becoming just the second player in franchise history to score the only goal of a regular-season game in overtime. The following offseason, however, brought a prolonged contract dispute that kept him out of training camp and the start of the 2018-19 season. Just minutes before the December 1, 2018 signing deadline, Nylander agreed to a six-year, $45 million contract with the Maple Leafs and returned to the lineup shortly thereafter.
After a difficult 2018-19 season in which he posted 27 points in 54 games, Nylander changed his jersey number from 29 to 88 to honor his Swedish roots and his admiration for Patrick Kane. He also agreed to cover the cost of jersey number changes for fans. The arrival of head coach Sheldon Keefe in late 2019-20 sparked a significant turnaround, and Nylander set a new career high with 31 goals in 68 games before the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the season.
Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2019-Present)
Nylander elevated his play to elite levels in subsequent seasons, recording his first 80-point season in 2021-22 with 34 goals and 46 assists, and his first 40-goal campaign the following year with 87 points. In 2023-24, he set a franchise record for the longest point streak to start a season and was later named to his first NHL All-Star Game after leading all skaters in fan voting. On January 8, 2024, he signed an eight-year, $92 million contract extension, the largest in Maple Leafs history, and finished that season with career highs of 58 assists and 98 points.
In 2024-25, Nylander set a new career high with 45 goals, finishing second in the NHL, and scored his second career hat trick against the Calgary Flames on February 4, 2025, exactly eight years after his first. That summer, he was awarded Guldpucken as Sweden’s top ice hockey player, the first time he received the honor. During the 2025-26 season, he became the Maple Leafs’ all-time franchise leader in overtime goals, surpassing Mats Sundin and Auston Matthews with his 15th on November 26, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Nylander is widely regarded as one of the most creative offensive players in the NHL, with elite stickhandling, vision, and acceleration that allow him to control the pace of play. He excels in transition and is particularly effective as a playmaker on the power play, where his patience and timing create high-quality scoring chances. His partnership with Auston Matthews on the top line and his ability to deliver in clutch moments have made him a constant offensive threat.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature achievements, Nylander won gold and was named MVP at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, led the 2014 World U18 Championships in scoring with 16 points in seven games, and signed the largest contract in Maple Leafs history. He also became the franchise’s all-time overtime goals leader and scored a memorable overtime winner in Stockholm during the 2023 NHL Global Series Sweden.
William Nylander Career Wins
Across his professional career in Sweden, the AHL, and the NHL, William Nylander has built an impressive resume of accomplishments. He has won a World Championship gold medal, a Calder Cup playoff appearance, and multiple scoring titles at the international junior level. He has also earned individual recognition as Sweden’s top player and a place in the NHL All-Star Game.
NHL Highlights
Nylander has recorded two 40-goal NHL seasons, a 98-point campaign in 2023-24, and an 87-point season in 2022-23, establishing himself among the league’s most consistent scorers. His first NHL goal came in March 2016 against the Ottawa Senators, and his first hat trick came against the Boston Bruins in February 2017. He has continued to perform in the playoffs, leading the Maple Leafs in goals and points during multiple postseason appearances.
Other Wins and Performances
At the international level, Nylander led Sweden to a gold medal at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge with a tournament-high eight assists and was the top scorer at the 2014 World U18 Championships. He also won gold and tournament MVP honors at the 2017 IIHF World Championship with 14 points in 10 games and led the 2019 World Championship in scoring with 18 points in eight games. He is scheduled to represent Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
William Nylander Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Nylander family. His father, Michael Nylander, had a long NHL career, and his younger brother Alexander Nylander was also drafted eighth overall and later joined William on the Toronto Maple Leafs. On November 24, 2024, William and Alexander became the fifth set of brothers to play a game together in Maple Leafs history.
Personal Life
Born in Canada but raised with strong ties to Sweden, William Nylander holds dual citizenship and spends his summers in his family’s home country. He is known for his engaging personality off the ice, and in 2025 he launched a YouTube channel to share more of his life and career with fans. He remains one of the most popular players in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and a prominent figure in Swedish hockey.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2024-25 NHL season, William Nylander posted one of the strongest campaigns of his career, setting a new personal best with 45 goals and finishing second in the league in that category. He added 39 assists for 84 points in 82 games and continued his streak of leading the Maple Leafs in playoff scoring, even as Toronto was eliminated in the second round by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. His consistency and scoring touch reinforced his status as one of the NHL’s premier offensive forwards.
Off the ice, Nylander was named the winner of Guldpucken, the award given annually to Sweden’s top ice hockey player, marking his first time receiving the honor. He was also announced as one of the first six players named to Sweden’s roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off and later for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. These selections reflected his standing as a leader of Sweden’s national program and a global ambassador for the sport.
Entering the 2025-26 season, Nylander built on his momentum by becoming the Maple Leafs’ all-time franchise leader in overtime goals, surpassing both Mats Sundin and Auston Matthews with his 15th on November 26, 2025, against the Columbus Blue Jackets. With a long-term contract in place and his role on the top line secured, he remains central to Toronto’s pursuit of playoff success.
