The Maple Leafs Beast Of Burden

They Are Rich Enough. Are They Tough Enough?

The Rolling Stones were in Toronto for a 1978 pre-tour rehearsal gig at the El Mocambo in Chinatown. The Prime Ministers much younger and recently estranged wife showed up as a surprise VIP guest to take in the show and mingle with the band. One thing lead to another and so the story goes that Maggie and Mick did a little dancing in the doorway. It wouldn’t be the last time a handsome European sent Toronto hearts a flutter with their care free attitude and god given talents.

William Nylander is the Mick Jagger of the Toronto Maples Leafs. Or maybe Willie is cool like Keith. Either way if the Leafs have a rock star it’s William Nylander. Showing up late for the show, forgetting the lyrics to a fan favourite but nailing the encore and throwing his scarf off to the groupies.

For those paying attention to the show in game 5 against the Ottawa Senators, you might have thought it was Matthews’ bad pass that lead to Dylan Cozens’ two on one short handed goal. But if you look closer you would have seen William Nylander floating along in one of his not giving a crap back checks. Maybe Nylander wouldn’t have caught Cozens. We’ll never know cause he never tried. When the smoothest and arguably fastest skater on your team gives up on a power play back check, in a series clinching game, it might be considered a tell. Perhaps the HNIC crew can pull up goal saving back checks in the playoffs this year. There have been many and none have been by Nylander.

Pretty boy, heartbreaker, late for the show.

Lucky for the Leafs and Nylander, scoring depth and great defence early in the series gave the Leafs another shot at eliminating the empowered Ottawa Senators. It was of course the same sweet skating Willie ‘Big Mick’ Nylander who showed up for an encore performance in game 6 and roped a pin point shot under the blocker of Ullmark to break the camels back. “Oh Willie’ the groupies swooned, ‘sing it again.”

The Toronto Maples have made it to the second round of the 2025 NHL playoffs thanks to the robust play of defensemen Simon Benoit and the timely scoring of Max Pacioretty. Everyone pays attention to the dynamic frontman and the swash buckling lead guitar player, but the rhythm section holds the team together. When the poster boys are sauntering out of the green room with the Prime Ministers wife, the roadies are getting the crap kicked out of them in the corners. Someone has to protect the ladies in the mosh pit.

The Leafs are rich enough. Are they tough enough? Tough enough for the Florida Panthers? Tough enough for the Hurricanes? Tough enough for Tom Wilson and the Caps? The Florida Panthers basically beat down the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tom Wilson dragged the Habs up and down his own bench, flattened them along the boards and scored game winners for good measure. Like Rod Brind’Amour and the Canes are gonna let the Leafs off with a light spring rain.

One could imagine the El Mocambo security detail using Alex Nylander as a decoy to avoid the groupies while Willie sneaks out the back into Kennington Market with Maggie and the band. It’s just a pre tour club gig after all.

But if the Leafs and sweet Willie are gonna make it to the big stage, the Fab Four are gonna have to learn to play all the little parts too. Memorize all the words to the deep cuts and lay out some big hits, not just play them.