While the Nylander brothers are proving a tad difficult for the Maple Leafs to tell apart without sweater numbers, William has made ID easier in post-game and practice interviews.
He has taken the old-school athlete route, going bare-chested for the many cameras and newspeople.
Players routinely speak as they remove gear at their stalls but, in a formal setting, most modern NHLers prefer the chance to show off team merch, their own new fashion or a sponsor’s hat. Perhaps it’s superstition for Nylander as he leads the Leafs in goals with 14.
“Do you want my shirt?” Mitch Marner teased as they changed places on the podium Sunday after the 3-2 win over Utah.
“No,” Nylander deadpanned.
The arrival of Alex last week has some Leafs seeing double with the right wingers.
“You see (similarities) in how they dress, down to the ice,” Marner said. “You kind of get lost sometimes. Both of them have a lot of confidence and a lot of swagger. That’s what you love to see and they play with it as well.
“I’m sure for their whole family it was a special moment (Sunday) to play in the NHL together and a couple of shifts together.”
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