William Nylander impressing Maple Leafs fans

William Nylander heard the “Go Leafs Go” chant at the Air Canada Centre after he scored the game-winning goal in Sweden’s 5-2 victory over Czech Republic on Boxing Day.

He also noticed the round of applause he received when his name was announced a few moments later.

“That was amazing,” said Nylander following Sweden’s opening game at the World Junior Hockey Championship. “It’s a great feeling when you are sitting there on the bench.”

Welcome to Toronto, William.

As the Toronto Maple Leafs first round pick (8^th overall in the 2014 NHL draft) he will be the focus for Leafs fans as the tournament opens with Group B (Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Switzerland and Czech Republic) playing games in Toronto.

The 5-foot-11, 170 pound forward scored a goal and created many other chances for Sweden throughout the game, giving Leafs fans a glimpse of what the future could hold.

“It felt good,” said Nylander. “First of all, our team played well after the 2 pre- tournament games. We got a good start to the tournament.”

He comes into this event having been a key offensive performer with MODO in the Swedish elite league, where – as one of the youngest players on a struggling team - he is second in scoring with 19 points in 19 games (8 G, 11 A).

“We have been getting better now,” said the 18 year-old. “We are starting to win games so it’s been a slow start, but getting going now.”

Nylander has excelled on the international stage before. He has represented Sweden on U-17 and U-18 teams.

At the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, Sweden took gold as Nylander had 2 goals and 8 assists.

If the first game here at the Air Canada Centre is an indication, Nylander will again be an offensive catalyst for Sweden.

The message from Leafs management to Nylander has more to do with off the ice, than work on it.

“Just growing and getting bigger. Working out in the gym and focusing on that stuff.”

His slight frame took a punishing blow early in the 3^rd period when the Czech Republic’s David Nemecek hit him hard into the boards. Nemecek got a 2 minute checking to the head penalty, and a 10 minute misconduct. Nylander returned to the game and said he felt fine afterward.

Wearing number 21 (Borje Salming wore that number with the Leafs) wasn’t lost on Nylander who said he didn’t pick the number – it was assigned to him – but he wasn’t going to say no.

“Of course not,” smiled Nylander.

“He has enough talent and hockey sense to play as a first-line centre in the NHL,” said a scout taking in the game, impressed with Nylander’s “pace of play.”

“You come here you want to play your best, and obviously show you are one of the top players,” noted Nylander.

“Playing in the world championships, you are pretty excited. Being in Toronto makes you even happier and more pumped.

Playing at the Air Canada Centre isn’t lost on him, either.

“I think it’s a great place, a really cool place to be.” 

Rinat Valiev has no problem playing in William Nylander's shadow

He’s the other Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick at the World Junior Hockey Championship, yet Russian defenseman Rinat Valiev isn’t getting much love – or notice – from the Air Canada Centre crowd.

He appears to be fine with all the attention on William Nylander.

The Maple Leafs 2^nd pick last June (3^rd round, 68^th overall from Kootenay Ice) is just thrilled to be playing at this event in a place he hopes will be his NHL home one day.

“It means a lot for me,” said Valiev, following Russia’s 3-2 loss to Sweden Monday. “I like it here. It’s a huge dream. I’m so excited to play here.”

Valiev left his Russian home of Nizhnekamsk (1,000 kilometers east of Moscow) when he was 17, to play in the United States Hockey League with the Indiana Ice.

He has spent the last 2 seasons with the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League. He was hampered by a knee injury last season and has shown he is fully healed now. Before he joined the Russian team, he led the Ice defensemen in scoring (5 G 20 A in 23 games).

His strong play in the playoffs last season for Kootenay (1 G, 13 A in 13 games) left an impression with the Leafs. After he went undrafted in 2013, the Leafs made him their next choice after Nylander last June.

“He was exceptional (in the playoffs) especially in the first round when they upset Calgary,” said Leafs scouting director Dave Morrison at the draft. “We really liked him all along and then we saw that. This is a guy with a big heart and all the intangibles we look for in a player.”

“To see Rinat on the ice in the last few seconds of a game (as he was in the game against Sweden), killing penalties at key times, we couldn’t be happier,” said Steve Staios, the Leafs Player Development Advisor, following the game against Sweden.  

“He’s a terrific kid,” added Staios a veteran of 1,001 NHL games. “He wants to be a player. There’s a lot of upside. I like the way he moves on the ice. He’s a good first passer. Fundamentally he’s sound.”

The 6-foot-2, 208 pound Valiev signed an entry level deal with Toronto in July. While Staios doesn’t like to make comparisons, Valiev’s play reminds some of another former Leaf blueliner Dmitri Yushkevich.

 “He’s in a good place in Kootenay,” said Staios. “They rely on him heavily. It’s been a steady progression for him.”

The 19 year-old Valiev is quick to credit Staios for helping him out prior to the season. Staios spent a few days with Valiev and worked with him on the ice.

“Steve Staois is helping me a lot,” smiled Valiev. “He came to Kootenay and he showed me a lot of things; skating movement, shooting the puck, stuff like that.”

Valiev is excited at the prospects of facing Ice teammate Sam Reinhart – “hopefully in the final” – at this event.

During the game against Sweden, the Air Canada Centre crowd cheered loudly during a highlight montage of William Nylander (Toronto’s 1^st round pick last June). Valiev didn’t notice.

“I didn’t really hear that. I was trying to focus on the game.”

“He’s a good player (Nylander had 2 assists in the game) and before the game coach told us to play hard against him, I know that.”

Maybe one day, Valiev will get his due in Toronto.