Maple Leafs' points leader William Nylander surprisingly facing criticism as team searches for answers

The Swedish winger's skill is unquestioned, but fans and pundits are once again feeling the weight of another inconsistent stretch.

Nylander drives play with ease, creates off the rush, and still produces at an elite clip, currently leading the group with 31 points, yet the team's overall posture has sagged. When frustration builds, eyes naturally drift toward star players.

Veteran analyst John Shannon added fuel to that discussion on Thursday. He praised Nylander's talent, calling him one of the league's most entertaining players, but admitted he's not sure the Swede is a leader. Those words hit hard in a market reading body language as much as box scores.

Nylander has never been a vocal presence. His influence shows through pace, control, and the ability to tilt the ice. But Toronto's lapses this season raise an old question: can a star who leads quietly still be the emotional engine a contender needs?

Leafs fans know Nylander can dominate shifts, but they also see moments when the group needs a spark. Shannon's comments captured that tension, saying he loves the player but remains unsure of the leadership.

It mirrors a sentiment creeping through the fan base. Everyone sees Nylander's elite edge work and deceptive passing, but leadership is harder to quantify. The Leafs are a relatively deep team, but with Auston Matthews, Brandon Carlo, Anthony Stolarz and Chris Tanev having missed time due to injury, someone has to step up and lead.

Thankfully, the Leafs still do have players like Morgan Rielly and John Tavares, who do possess those leadership skills, but with Nylander having been with the Leafs organization since 2014, there's no question that players look to him for motivation and advice when things are tough.

Matthews has since returned from injury, so at least there is another leader in the room moving forward to help take some of the pressure off of Nylander.

As the season presses on, the issue becomes less about personality and more about moments. Leadership shows up in how a star responds when the team plays flat, when details slip, or when opponents dictate the game. Nylander, at his best, can change momentum with one electric shift, and that in itself carries weight.

Toronto does not need Nylander to reinvent himself. They need him to marry skill with presence, to set a tempo others can follow, and to own stretches when the group looks lost. It is a fair challenge for a player capable of so much.

If he answers that call, the Leafs will feel it immediately. If he doesn't, the conversation will only get louder.