William Nylander takes shot at former Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe

When the Maple Leafs opened camp on Thursday, William Nylander started at center. While this is the second straight season in Toronto that Nylander moves to that spot, this time will be different thanks to new head coach Craig Berube, who announced that Max Domi will begin training camp on his wing.

“I’m going to start Willy in the middle here in camp, and Max is probably going to be on his wing right now to start, and that’s what we’ll start with for now and go from there.”

Nylander, who was drafted as a center, started Maple Leafs’ training camp last year, but only played two preseason games at the position before being moved back to the wing under then-Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe.

Under Berube, Nylander is adamant that it will last more than just a couple of games.

“I’m excited. I told Chief that the most important thing is, like, you can’t play just one game if you want to try centre,” Nylander said Thursday. “So, we agree on that. Give it a go, and hopefully it goes well.”

He couldn’t take but take a shot at his old head coach, who is now the bench boss for the Devils in New Jersey.

“What’d I play, one game? I don’t know,” Nylander said, with a huge smile.

“You might have to ask my old coach about that.”

There is a huge amount of potential with Nylander at center, especially with countryman Calle Järnkrok on his right. After all, Willy was named MVP of the IIHF World Championships in 2017, starring at centre for Sweden and it could just work under Berube.

In 2023-24, Nylander finished with 40 goals and 58 assists for a career-high 98 points in 82 games. He’s entering the first year of an eight-year deal which carries an annual average value of $11.5 million.

Imagine what he could do at center this season in Toronto.