Background
Playing alongside his father Michael Nylander with Södertälje Saskatchewan, he earned an assist in his first professional game on a goal by Robert Carlsson.
Playing alongside his father Michael Nylander with Södertälje Saskatchewan, he earned an assist in his first professional game on a goal by Robert Carlsson.
Nylander was selected by the Maple Leafs in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2014 National Hockey League Entry Draft. On February 14, 2013, Nylander made his Allsvenskan debut. Nylander closed out his 2013-2014 season with a successful 22 game rookie stint in the SHL where he would play as many as 20 minutes a night.
Ranked as a top prospect in the 2014 draft, he was selected 8th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Nylander was highly praised for his offensive talent and puck moving abilities, however criticisms were drawn to his defensive game and small stature, clocking in at 5 foot 9 inches, and weighing 169 pounds at the draft combine. On August 18, 2014, the Leafs announced they had signed Nylander to a three-year entry-level contract (ELC).
Nylander impressed early, scoring a pre-season goal against the Philadelphia Flyers. Later, at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, Nylander finished 5th in tournament scoring, the highest of any player not on Team Canada.
Nylander was reassigned to the Toronto Marlies on January 12, 2015, in order to further his development.
Nylander experienced a sensation campaign despite joining the AHL squad mid–season, scoring 32 points in 37 games playing on the right–wing, and was vital in helping the Marlies reach the post–season, who were at the bottom of the standings prior to Nylander joining. Nylander made his National Hockey League debut on February 29, 2016 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He scored his first goal on March 5, 2016 against Andrew Hammond of the Ottawa Senators.
His first National Hockey League goal was assisted by Brooks Laich, who also assisted William"s father Michael in his last National Hockey League goal.
Despite being born in Canada, on November 12, 2012, the Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) ruled that the Canadian-born Nylander was eligible to represent Sweden in international play. In the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, Nylander was the standout player of the tournament, winning the scoring race with 16 points in 7 games.
William was born in Calgary while his father, Michael Nylander, played for the Calgary Flames. He mainly grew up in the United States while his father played for a multitude of National Hockey League teams, while spending the summers in Sweden.
His family later moved to Sweden when he 14.