Report: NHL looking into William Nylander giving middle finger to broadcast camera during Sunday’s game

A seemingly harmless gesture has now turned into a potential matter of supplementary discipline.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander gave the middle finger to a TSN broadcast camera during Sunday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche. Nylander was sitting in the press box among the rest of the Leafs’ injured players and scratches. Toronto was trailing 3-0 during the third period, when Nylander took notice of the camera.

The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reports that the NHL is now looking into the matter, and Nylander could potentially face sanction for the incident.

Here’s what happened:

Oh Willy 😂

🎥: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/7w8bW1C5xg

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) January 25, 2026

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Nylander subsequently issued an apology after the game on his Instagram story.

“only love for leafs nation,” Nylander wrote. “sorry about my moment of frustration today! didn’t mean to upset anyone. looking forward to being back on the ice and not in the stands. love willy.”

Nylander has been out of the lineup since aggravating a groin injury against the Vegas Golden Knights on January 15. Toronto has posted a 1-3-1 record during Nylander’s latest absence, losing every game this week during a pivotal home stand. And it’s only natural to understand where Nylander was coming from, as the Maple Leafs lost 4-1 to the league-leading Avalanche. Brock Nelson recorded a hat-trick for the Avalanche, while Max Domi scored with 62 seconds remaining in regulation to avoid a shutout.

“We’ve played a lot of good hockey this year and put together some really good stretches. Obviously, the results this week haven’t been great, but a great chance to turn that around,” Maple Leafs forward John Tavares said post-game.

“Coming home here, I thought we put ourselves in a pretty good place to climb in the standings,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said post-game. “We have been a good home team. But that wasn’t the case this time coming home.”

Typically, you’re not supposed to an editorialize during a news story, but we’re breaking through the fourth wall to opine that this is a non-story, and ought to be treated as such by the league office.