Craig Berube Leaks New Details About His Unique Bond with William Nylander
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube explained his relationship with star William Nylander and how it's developed this season.
For as much of a player's coach as Craig Berube is, there is one player who seems to prefer to be left alone to his own devices and that's star forward William Nylander.
Admitting to the media that Nylander prefers the silent treatment earlier this season, it seems the two might have a rockier relationship than some would anticipate, even though Nylander put in arguably his best season.
Craig Berube Finds William Nylander One Of A Kind
So for 'Chief', who was speaking to the Nasty Knuckles Podcast about the season, spoke very highly of Nylander and revealed the type of relationship the two have:
He's as skilled as I've coached any player. His ability, it's hard to explain.
He has an unreal knock of stripping guys of the puck, and the ability with putting the puck from his skate to his stick; all the little stuff.
That goal in the playoffs against Florida, Pacioretty made the pass, he had to take the puck and the way he got it up over the goalie, that's hard to do.
He's great that way, he's so fast and so good on his skates. It's crazy, you know. He's a good teammate, a good guy. He wants to win, like all of us.
There's always things to improve upon and demand of him like other guys, but he's quite the guy.
Muscle shirt, earrings, hair all over. It's funny. He'll always say 'You lost me in the first' and I ask 'What are you talking about?' and he says 'Well, I need a lot of ice time to get going.'
One time he had a point-blank chance and he missed. I said to him 'You shot it right in the goalie's glove, why didn't you try and put it over him?'
He flat out said 'Well I just wasn't warmed up enough yet.' I'm looking at him thinking 'What a beauty!'
He has an unreal knock of stripping guys of the puck, and the ability with putting the puck from his skate to his stick; all the little stuff.
That goal in the playoffs against Florida, Pacioretty made the pass, he had to take the puck and the way he got it up over the goalie, that's hard to do.
He's great that way, he's so fast and so good on his skates. It's crazy, you know. He's a good teammate, a good guy. He wants to win, like all of us.
There's always things to improve upon and demand of him like other guys, but he's quite the guy.
Muscle shirt, earrings, hair all over. It's funny. He'll always say 'You lost me in the first' and I ask 'What are you talking about?' and he says 'Well, I need a lot of ice time to get going.'
One time he had a point-blank chance and he missed. I said to him 'You shot it right in the goalie's glove, why didn't you try and put it over him?'
He flat out said 'Well I just wasn't warmed up enough yet.' I'm looking at him thinking 'What a beauty!'
Knowing that Berube is giving Nylander the leeway to get going as opposed to chastising him for not helping soon enough is a stark difference from Sheldon Keefe, and shows that he's listening to his players.
Nylander tells Berube often that he needs to do things on his own, and while you'd think the head coach would look at him like he has three heads; it's the opposite.
It's about trusting your players, and the fact that Berube is both stern and supportive of the team is the mark of a good coach.
Could William Nylander Be Even Better Next Year?
No doubt he can, and with Berube trusting him then there's no telling how goo he could possibly be.
This season he posted a career-high 45 goals; his third straight 40-goal season, and had 84 points in 82 games; one of only two players to skate in every game for the team.
The evolution of Nylander has been spectacular to say the least. From averaging almost 44 points for the first six seasons, he's gone on to average over 87 points and nearly doubled his production.
He also had a blistering 17.8% shooting percentage, and only had 253 shots. He was efficient, he was calculated, and he made sure that he made his shots count.
Looking at his EDGE statistics, Nylander also knows when to shoot, eschewing chances at long-range for the chance to shoot between the slot and the hashmarks.
Coupling that with John Tavares (or potentially Sam Bennett) and a more premium role given Mitch Marner's departure, there's no telling how much more he could be capable of.
Just as long as Berube continues to let Nylander be himself.
| POLL | ||
MAI 31 | 529 ANSWERS Craig Berube Leaks New Details About His Unique Bond with William Nylander Do you think Craig Berube and William Nylander can figure out a way to work together better? | ||
| Yes | 394 | 74.5 % |
| No | 135 | 25.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
