Leafs star William Nylander calls out head coach Craig Berube for his lack of ice-time
William Nylander is reportedly unhappy with the reduced ice time he's received under new Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube. Following Sheldon Keefe's exit and Berube's arrival, some adjustments were expected but the shift in style has impacted Nylander more than most.
Berube's approach emphasizes hard work, straightforward hockey, and minimizing risky East-West plays that often lead to turnovers. Nylander however hasn't thrived under this system and has seen his ice time drop to an average of 18 minutes per game, his lowest in four seasons which is a dip of almost two minutes from last year.
Eager to play a bigger role Nylander recently approached Berube offering to join the penalty kill to earn extra ice time.
Despite the drop in minutes, Nylander is off to a strong start this season with a team leading six goals and four assists through 10 games making him one of only two Leafs to reach double digit points so far alongside Mitch Marner.
Berube's team-first mindset means he may not prioritize individual ice time concerns, as his primary focus is on the Leafs overall success. It remains to be seen if he'll give Nylander extra shifts on the penalty kill which could increase his playing time slightly.
If Berube stands firm on keeping Nylander at 18 minutes, however, it could lead to ongoing frustration for the talented winger. The situation bears watching, as managing Nylander's role effectively could be key to keeping harmony within the team.
