Watch: Maple Leafs’ Nylander pots first NHL goal
Toronto Maple Leafs rookie William Nylander scored his first NHL goal Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators, and it turned out to have an interesting connection to his father, former NHLer Michael Nylander.
William’s goal was assisted by Brooks Laich, who was acquired from the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline. It was a deadly snipe by the promising prospect that should be on his highlight reel for years to come.
What makes this something the Nylander family will be telling at family dinners for years to come is that Michael’s last NHL goal, which came for the Capitals on April 5, 2009 against the Thrashers, was also assisted by... Brooks Laich.
The elder Nylander played 920 games during his NHL career, racking up 209 goals and 679 points.
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His son was selected with the eighth pick in the 2014 draft, and is expected to be a major piece in the Leafs rebuild. He has skated in 37 games with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL, producing 18-27—45 totals.
William’s younger brother Alexander is ranked in the top 10 among 2016 draft eligible players, and it just so happens Toronto is in the running for a high lottery pick and has Laich under contract through 2016-17. Could we get a Nylander hat trick for Laich?
–Mark Garbino