William Nylander raves about John Tavares’ leadership: ‘He took an unbelievable deal for the team’

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander actively took part in the NHL European Player Media Tour with the new season on the horizon. Nylander caught up with David Pagnotta and Dennis Berstein of The Fourth Period, where he reflected on a number of topics, including Toronto’s pressure-packed hockey market.

Nylander previously disputed the notion that Mitch Marner was already preparing to leave the Maple Leafs during the 2024-25 season, stating that he asked his teammate what his plans were during the season. With the Marner saga in the background, at least for now, Nylander turned his attention to one of his current running mates, John Tavares. Tavares signed a four-year extension worth $4.38 million annually during the offseason, a deal that was considered to be a major win for the Maple Leafs, and Nylander couldn’t be happier about it.

“He’s been an incredible leader for me and I’ve learned a lot from him, both on and off the ice,” Nylander said about Tavares. “He took an unbelievable deal for the team. Wanted to stay. Showed his commitment to want to win a Cup in Toronto. Everyone on the team appreciates that a lot and that shows leadership for sure.”

#LeafsForever William Nylander joined @TheFourthPeriod & @DennisTFP at the NHL European Player Media Tour

Catch the full interview on Wednesday at 10am ET pic.twitter.com/X3fC3fOOVw

— SiriusXM NHL Network Radio (@SiriusXMNHL) August 25, 2025

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After the Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers, some of the popular discourse focused on the idea that Toronto is a uniquely difficult market to play in, in large part due to the volume of media and a passionate fan base. Nylander has rarely paid attention to external criticism, and provided some more insight on how to thrive in Toronto.

“I think people forget that we as players also want to win. I think we have our goal to want to go all the way. I’ve been playing there for a while. I don’t really think about what other people say or what their opinion is of how we’re playing. Inside the locker room, we know what we need to do to get there. It’s not an easy battle, so you got to appreciate the grind it takes to get there for when you eventually get to that point.”

Nylander, Tavares, and Auston Matthews are now the centrepieces of the franchise, and though the team could regress during the regular season, the Stanley Cup remains the team’s lone goal. And one Stanley Cup victory would change the trajectory and tenor of the discourse surrounding the Maple Leafs’ greatest stars. It’s a new season ahead for the Maple Leafs, with Nylander at the forefront.