Leafs Star William Nylander Can Do Something Next Season Not Seen in a Decade in Toronto

As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for their first season without superstar Mitch Marner, the offence he once provided will need to be accounted for by the rest of the existing roster.

One player who will be looked upon to help make up some of that lost offense is William Nylander, who is now the Leafs' undisputed best winger.

Nylander is coming off of an incredible season, scoring a career high 45 goals and posting 84 points in 82 games, while leading the team in playoff production with 15 points in 13 games.

One milestone within reach for Nylander is finishing as the team's top scorer in the regular season --something no player other than Auston Matthews or Mitch Marner has done in the past nine seasons. Since the duo entered the league in 2016-17, they've alternated as the Leafs' scoring leaders year after year.

With Marner gone and Nylander expected to take on more responsibility, the door is open for him to break that streak, as Auston Matthews will now be his lone competition.

Nylander has already finished second in team scoring for three straight seasons, so topping the list is far from unrealistic.

Adding to his motivation, Nylander was ranked 6th on the NHL Network's list of the top 20 wingers heading into the season -- just one spot behind his former teammate, Marner, who ranked 5th.

If Nylander can combine his increased role with that competitive edge, he may be in line for another career season. The circumstances are aligning for what could be a changing of the guard atop the Maple Leafs' scoring chart.