Two NHL stars, two very different approaches to life in Toronto’s spotlight.
One, a former Toronto Maple Leafs superstar, famously avoided social media in response to the harassment he received from fans. The other, a current star on the team, has dived headfirst into the online interaction.
Mitch Marner, who grew up in the Toronto area, fulfilled his lifelong dream of playing for the Maple Leafs, but life away from the rink was often a nightmare for the No. 4 overall pick in 2015, who was routinely subjected to viral vitriol and required security to keep his home and family safe. Marner’s nine-year tenure with the Maple Leafs ended this summer, with a sign-and-trade deal that sent the 28-year-old winger to the Vegas Golden Knights.
“We just decided it was time for a new chapter,” Marner said of the decision. “We loved being in Toronto full time and being close to family and friends, but we just thought it was time for a new chapter in life.”
William Nylander Launches YouTube Channel Giving Access to Daily Life
On the other side, William Nylander, the 29-year-old winger who was selected by the Maple Leafs with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2014 draft, has grown to embrace the pressure of playing in the hockey-mad world of Toronto. While acknowledging that dealing with the media and mania is “not an easy battle,” Nylander has said that he appreciates playing for a fan base that carries such intense passion around in its daily life.
And now he is giving those fans access to what is happening in his daily life.
On Thursday, Nylander hard-launched a YouTube channel titled @williamnylander. In a 30-second trailer posted to the site’s Shorts page, Nylander showed a compilation of clips giving a taste of what goes on behind the scenes.
“I decided to start a YouTube channel so you guys could follow me around, and see what my life is like,” he said in the video.
The channel had gained almost 11,000 subscribers in its first day, and while some fan reaction to the announcement was predictably negative, there were many who welcomed the efforts of the affable Swede.
“People will joke about this because Leafs, but he’s a super likable, charming dude,” said one commenter on a Reddit thread about the launch. “This will bring new fans and is a good thing!”
“Willy is legit built for toronto,” another agreed. “The guy takes the TTC (public transit), walks his dogs around his neighbourhood and plays tennis on public courts. He’s a gem.”
For Marner, Toronto’s intensity was too much. For Nylander, it’s becoming content.
Maple Leafs Ask William Nylander to Fill Leadership Void Left by Marner’s Loss
With Marner now gone, Toronto is entering a transitional phase. The loss isn’t merely in on-ice production — Marner regularly cleared the 100-point mark and was a consistent creative engine — but he also left a leadership void. Head coach Craig Berube has indicated he’s looking to Nylander to fill more of that role, both on the scoresheet and behind the bench.
“We need him to score goals and we need him to do the things that he does with his skill. For me … I think he can take a bigger step in a leadership role,” Berube told the media.
In that sense, Nylander’s new YouTube channel and increased public presence might be more than a media gimmick — they’re a signal of a player embracing a broader role. If he can marry production with personality and accountability, the Leafs could be more cohesive, more dangerous, and more balanced this season.
It’s a big ask, but the contrast with Marner’s retreat from public life makes it all the more telling: this is Toronto’s new narrative, and Nylander is at its center.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Current Leafs’ Star Leans Into Spotlight That Mitch Marner Left Behind appeared first on Heavy Sports.