Maple Leafs Coach Craig Berube Calls Out William Nylander

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs forward

All it took was three games (and a 1-2-0 start) for Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube to call out his star winger, William Nylander. 

Berube wants his 40-goal forward to shoot the puck more, among other things.

He doesn't have enough shots... Willy needs more shots. He needs to attack more, needs to shoot more. He’s got to get on the inside more.

There’s shifts and times where he is skating. But I just feel like it’s not enough. We need more out of him.

It's a fair callout, as with just three shots on goal total in three games, that certainly doesn't meet Willy's standard of more than three shots per game over the last several years. But he does have four points (one empty net goal, three assists) in the first three games of the season, so there's that. 

Meanwhile, Berube isn't satisfied, and he'll be chatting with Nylander about it. 

“I don’t know exactly what it is, to be honest with you,” Berube said. “But I’ll have a conversation with him and see where he’s at and what’s going on.”

One of the things that's going on, possibly, is not having a consistent third linemate through the first three games, from Bobby McMann to Matias Maccelli. But no doubt, Nylander needs to attack the net more, and shoot more. 

Berube does feel that he has a strong enough relationship with his star winger that he can make public comments like these, and the player won't sulk. 

Last season, Willie had a career-high 45 goals on 253 shots (though he has topped that number twice previously, with a career-best 316 shots on goal in 2023-24). 

The Leafs are hosting the Nashville Predators Tuesday night as they try to get back to .500. Rookie Easton Cowan will play for the second straight day. 

Photo: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

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