William Andrew Michael Junior Nylander Altelius is a professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.
Born on May 1, 1996, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, while his father Michael Nylander was playing for the Calgary Flames, he holds dual Canadian and Swedish citizenship and represents Sweden in international competition.
Known for his speed, skill, and offensive creativity, Nylander has become one of the Maple Leafs’ most consistent and dynamic scorers.
He was selected eighth overall by Toronto in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and has spent his entire NHL career with the organization.
Nicknamed ‘Willy Styles’ for his distinctive style both on and off the ice, he is the son of former NHL player Michael Nylander, who appeared in more than 900 games across several teams.
Siblings
William has one younger brother, Alexander “Alex” Nylander, born in 1998 in Calgary, who is also a professional hockey player.
Alex was drafted eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2016.
He has played for several NHL organizations, including stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.
The brothers briefly shared the ice in late 2024, becoming the fifth set of brothers to play together for the franchise.
William also has four sisters. His older half-sister is Michelle Nylander.
His younger sisters are Jacqueline, often referred to as Ella, Stephanie, and Daniella Nylander.
The sisters have maintained relatively private lives.
Also Read: Finn Wolfhard Siblings: Getting to Know Nick Wolfhard
Career
Nylander developed his game in Sweden after the family’s moves. He played junior and professional hockey there before being drafted.
He made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs and steadily established himself as a top-six forward.
Over the years, he has produced multiple seasons with 30 or more goals, including consecutive 40-goal campaigns.
He reached a career-high 98 points in the 2023-24 season.
In 2024-25, he scored a personal-best 45 goals. In January 2024, he signed an eight-year, $92 million contract extension with Toronto.
The deal was the largest in franchise history at the time and secured his place with the team for the long term.
He has also represented Sweden at the World Juniors, World Championships, and other international events. He has contributed to strong showings for the national team.
Accolades
Nylander’s honors include selection to the 2024 NHL All-Star Game.
He led fan voting among skaters for the event. He was named NHL Rookie of the Month on two occasions early in his career.
Internationally, he won gold with Sweden at the 2017 IIHF World Championship. He was named tournament most valuable player after leading the team in scoring.
At the 2019 World Championship, he again led the tournament in points. He also earned a spot on the media All-Star team.
In 2025, he received the Guldpucken, or Golden Puck, awarded to Sweden’s top ice hockey player of the year. He became the first Maple Leafs player to win the honor.
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