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Despite nerves, Leafs’ Nylander scores in preseason debut

Wiliam Nylander

Toronto Maple Leafs’ William Nylander smiles at NHL hockey training camp in Toronto, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)

AP

For many, the NHL preseason is about shaking off rust and not getting injured. It’s easy to forget that these “irrelevant” games are sometimes life-altering moments for younger players in particular.

As the eighth pick of the 2014 NHL Draft, big things are expected from Toronto Maple Leafs prospect William Nylander. He’s already played with adult professional hockey players in Sweden, yet Tuesday’s preseason game left him undeniably nervous, as TSN’s Jonas Siegel reports.

One could argue that he showed his first evidence of converting that nervous energy into positive results, as the 18-year-old managed to score in Toronto’s 4-0 win against the Philadelphia Flyers:

Head coach Randy Carlyle seems like he graded Nylander an “Incomplete” for the night, though.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins