Another hit to Connor McDavid coming from Toronto

The 2023-24 season may not have started off the way the Toronto Maple Leafs were hoping to, however on Friday night against the visiting Calgary Flames, the Leafs are looking to right this ship.

Toronto is especially getting the help of top forward William Nylander, who just in the first frame of the contest, collected a goal, bringing his season-opening point streak to 14 games.

With that, Nylander joins Connor McDavid (17 GP in 2021-22) as the only active players with a season-opening point streak of at least 14 games.

If there is one good thing amidst the Maple Leafs’ subar season start it has been Nylander. The pending free agent is fighting for a new contract and is surely sending the message that he deserves to get big money.

Nylander is currently playing in the final year of a six-year, $45-million contract he signed back in 2018. It was reported earlier in the summer that both sides weren’t close on a number for Nylander’s next contract, with the forward seeking around $10 million annually.

But I mean he may be worth way more by the way he is playing. After the first period in Friday night’s contest vs. Calgary, Nylander has not only brought his season-opening point streak to 14 games, he is also on pace for 47 goals and 111 points in 2023-24.

Would you get your chequebook out, Brad Treliving?!

As for poor McDavid, he only has collected two goals and eight assists in 10 games so far this season. Edmonton owns a disastrous 2–91 record, good for dead last overall, looking a far cry from the Stanley Cup contender many expected the Oilers would be in 2023-24.

McDavid did miss two games due to an upper-body injury, but returned to the Heritage Classic, one of the two contests won by Edmonton.

Rumours have surfaced that McDavid could still be dealing with a nagging injury, though he said himself he believes to be healthy enough to help the Oilers and get his team back on track.

However, there is a lot piling up on McDavid’s shoulders: the possible injury, his team falling last in the league, his goalie Jack Campbell being sent down with no move to boost the roster on the horizon, and now Nylander stealing the show with his hot start. McDavid is probably looking at the Maple Leafs and wondering how Nylander can still shine through the darkness in Toronto…

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