William Nylander has done everything in his power this season to prove the Toronto Maple Leafs' faith in him wasn't misplaced. The top prospect in the Leafs organization has been on an absolute tear for the Toronto Marlies, putting together an early American Hockey League season stretch of 34 points in 28 games.
Now an integral piece of the Swedish team at the 2016 World Junior Hockey Championships, Nylander and the Leafs were likely expecting to see that high-level play, and Nylander's development, continue. Unfortunatly, early in Sweden's first game against Switzerland, Nylander found himself on the receiving end of a hit that could put his development on hold for some time.
Nylander out from this illegal hit. https://t.co/kDxTjEKPZU
— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) December 26, 2015
That hit came courtesy of Swiss forward Chris Egli, who according to Pro Hockey Talk, was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for an illegal check to the head.
The 19-year-old Nylander left the game immediately following the hit and would not return, per The Toronto Sun.
The eighth-overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, Nylander is viewed as one of the players expected to lead the charge on the next wave of Maple Leafs hockey. His 34 points thus far this season for the Marlies is tops in the entirety of the AHL.
