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Leafs won’t turn to prospect William Nylander for help

William Nylander

William Nylander

Colin McConnell

Despite scoring just seven goals in eight games (all losses) the Toronto Maple Leafs won’t recall 18-year-old prospect William Nylander for help offensively.

Nylander, who joined the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies in mid-January, scored his first AHL goal in Utica Friday night.

“It’s not time to call up William at all,” Leafs general manager Dave Nonis told the Toronto Star.

Nonis’ statement echoed that of his assistant Kyle Dubas.

Dubas addressed the plan for Nylander on Jan. 12 and was asked about the possibility of a recall at some point during the final months of the regular season.

“Right now, there’s not a chance,” said Dubas. “We need to be patient. We can’t live and die with if he has a good weekend.

“I know the media will continue to ask every good weekend that he has and the answer will be ‘no’. We need to be patient, develop him properly and have him come up when he’s able to sustain being an NHL player versus come up and then go back down.”

Nylander made his AHL debut on Jan. 23 and played in his third game Friday night.

The forward, who was Toronto’s first-round selection (eighth overall) in 2014, had eight goals and 20 points in 21 games with Modo in the SHL prior to joining the Marlies.

Related: Leafs’ prospect Nylander using Bruins’ Pastrnak as motivation

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