NHL Looking Into Maple Leafs' William Nylander's Obscene Gesture

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander is under NHL investigation after flipping his middle finger at a broadcast camera at a recent game against the Colorado Avalanche.

Jan 13, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (88) waits for a face off against the Utah Mammoth during the first period at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

William Nylander found himself in hot water with the NHL following an inappropriate gesture caught on live television. The Maple Leafs forward was shown on the TSN broadcast during their 4-1 home loss to the Colorado Avalanche when he flashed his middle finger at the camera from the press box.

League officials are now reviewing the incident and Nylander could face supplemental discipline, according to The Athletic's Chris Johnston. The gesture occurred early in the third period with the Maple Leafs trailing 3-0. TSN cameras panned to the press box where injured and scratched players were watching the game.

The NHL is looking at this William Nylander incident, per sources. It's possible the #leafs forward will face punishment for flipping the middle finger at the broadcast camera during today's game.

Nylander has since apologized, calling it a "moment of frustration." pic.twitter.com/rmitPYDyd2

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 26, 2026

Nylander was seated alongside Chris Tanev, Dakota Joshua, Calle Jarnkrok and Philippe Myers when he noticed the camera focused on the group. He smiled briefly before raising his middle finger as the broadcast quickly cut back to the ice.

The clip went viral on social media and drew immediate criticism from fans and media. Nylander moved quickly to address the situation by posting an apology on his Instagram account several hours after the game. He expressed remorse while attributing the action to his frustration watching from the sidelines.

Apology Issues on Social Media

Nylander took responsibility for his actions in an Instagram story. He included an image from the incident with his hand covered by heart symbols to blur out the gesture. The winger emphasized his love for Maple Leafs fans and acknowledged he did not mean to upset anyone with his behavior.

Toronto Maple Leafs William Nylander apologizes on his Instagram story after flashing an obscene gesture on 1-25-2026. | William Nylander

The 28-year-old forward expressed eagerness to return to game action rather than continuing to watch from the press box. He signed the apology with his nickname and added blue and white heart emojis representing the team colors. The incident marked an uncharacteristic lapse in judgment for a player usually known for his laid-back demeanor.

Injury Compounds Team Struggles

Nylander has been sidelined for the past five games with a groin injury he re-aggravated during a 6-5 overtime loss to Vegas on January 15. The original injury occurred against Ottawa on December 27 and forced him to miss six consecutive contests before he briefly returned.

He skated for 20 minutes last weekend in his first on-ice session since re-injuring himself. Despite missing 11 games this season, Nylander leads the Maple Leafs with 48 points, including 17 goals and 31 assists in just 37 appearances. His absence has coincided with Toronto going 1-4 over the last five games.

The team has lost four straight at home and collected just one point during that stretch. The Maple Leafs sit at 24-19-9 for 57 points and remain five points out of the Eastern Conference's final wild card spot currently held by Boston.

Toronto faces Buffalo before embarking on a six-game road trip. The NHL has not announced a timeline for its decision regarding potential discipline for Nylander, but a ruling is expected before his return to game action.

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