Thursday marked the start of a new chapter in William Nylander's NHL career as he gets his first extended look at centre. The 27-year-old winger is playing through a contract year but reiterated that his agent and Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving can deal with the negotiations. Mark Masters has more from training camp.
After the conditioning skate, the players left the ice for a meeting before returning for the main practice. It marked the start of a new chapter in Nylander's NHL career as he gets his first extended look as a centre.
"It's a little bit of an adjustment in D-zone," Nylander acknowledged."It's just knowing the system a little better and when to jump and put pressure and when to maybe not put so much pressure ... But if I play throughout training camp and get games I think it will help me get adjusted.""You have two guys who have played centre and can take on some responsibilities low in the zone," Keefe said.
"Maybe I get the puck a little bit more in the middle of the ice," said Nylander,"but playing on the wing maybe I get more breakaways and stuff like that so it's a little give and take.""Every season I try to get better and better so we're going for a better year this year," he said. Tyler Bertuzzi is getting the first chance to play on the left side of the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
"Get in front, grind it out a bit and try to create some space for those guys and just bring energy," he said of his mindset. "I'm going to have to glue my stick to the ice," he said with a chuckle."It could come at any time, anywhere. It's cool." Ilya Samsonov wore a big smile throughout Thursday's media session.
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