Maple Leafs winger William Nylander says he remains unfazed amid team slump

Toronto's star winger William Nylander said he is not letting the recent criticism in the city affect his focus despite the Maple Leafs sliding down the standings during a four-game losing streak. "I’ve been here for 10 years," Nylander told reporters after practice at the Ford Performance Centre, adding that trade rumors have been a constant backdrop.

Nylander noted he scored a power-play goal against Montreal on Saturday and emphasized that he is still looking to generate offense, though he has struggled to keep the puck on his stick. "Slump? I mean, I scored against Montreal," he said with a smile. "It’s tough when I don’t have the puck on my stick to do anything offensively."

Head coach Jim Hiller said Nylander is trying and that the player may be overthinking his game. > "He wants to do well for the team. His heart’s in the right place. He knows he’s not playing his best. We just have to help him clear his head and get back to skating and playing."

Nylander was minus-four in the 6-3 loss to Colorado and, for the first time this season, recorded no shots on goal. He said he will focus on the next game. > "Last night is just one of those nights where that’s what happens. Just want to focus on the next game."

The Leafs will host the Minnesota Wild, second in the NHL standings, on Thursday. Despite the recent dry spell, Nylander remains tied for the team lead with 11 goals and sits second on the roster with 22 points.

Veteran centre John Tavares said he expects more from Nylander and will work to elevate his own play. "No one expects more of himself than Willy," Tavares said. "Very driven, one of the best game breakers in the league."

Hiller also addressed injuries to forwards Colton Sissons and Kirill Marchenko, noting limited flexibility in line adjustments. The coach highlighted the recent call-up of Ryan Tverberg, who practiced with Tavares and Nylander, and expressed hope that his presence would improve offensive zone time.

In other news, defenseman Zack MacEwen missed practice due to a wrist issue, and defensemen Kirill Marchenko and Nick Blankenburg remain listed as week-to-week after lower-body injuries. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who has a five-game regulation losing streak, participated in practice and said he is focusing on controllable factors.

The Leafs shuffled defensive pairings in practice but Hiller cautioned against reading too much into the changes. "We’re always doing different things for different reasons," he said.

The practice lineups featured a mix of regulars and recent call-ups as the team looks to rebound ahead of the upcoming matchup.