The uncertainty surrounding William Nylander’s status ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics has ignited a heated debate among NHL analysts, with some arguing the Toronto Maple Leafs should shut him down entirely. The conversation was a hot topic on TSN OverDrive on Tuesday, with one host suggesting the Maple Leafs should pull Nylander from the games.
Jeff O’Neill was blunt when the topic came up. “I would tell him to get his a– home. It’s over,” O’Neill said. “If there was kind of any question, I would just say, ‘You’re done.’” As it stands right now, Nylander (groin) will be a game-time decision for Wednesday’s game vs. Italy
What’s Wrong with Nylander?
Nylander, who traveled to Italy to represent Team Sweden, has yet to resume skating, and the lack of clarity about his injury has only fueled concern about what might be wrong with him. Adding to the mystery, members of the Swedish team — including Maple Leafs teammate Oliver Ekman-Larsson — have offered little information when asked. Bryan Hayes suggested Ekman-Larsson was acting coy about Nylander’s condition.
According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic:
““It’s a maintenance thing,” head coach Sam Hallam said after practice. “He’s done two full ice practices with us and felt, after yesterday, a bit sore, so we’ll just give him an extra day. And then we’ll see for tomorrow if he’s ready to go. It’s going to be a pretty late decision.”
source – ‘Sweden ‘not overly concerned’ after William Nylander misses Olympic hockey practice’ – Pierre LeBrun – The Athletic – 02-10-2026
That uncertainty is making people uneasy, and it should be a concern for the Maple Leafs. No one outside the team seems to know exactly what Nylander is dealing with. Is this a minor issue that simply requires rest? Or is it something more serious that could linger well beyond the Olympics?
Can the Maple Leafs Pull Nylander? … Should They?
O’Neill acknowledged how meaningful the Olympics are to players, but questioned the risk involved, especially given Nylander’s importance to Toronto.
“If he grinds it out, makes it worse, and then comes back and can’t go for the Leafs, that’s a problem,” O’Neill said, pointing out Nylander earns $11.5 million per season with Toronto.
Jamie McLennan said he’s not sure what the Leafs can or should do. “You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” McLennan said.
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If Nylander sits out, he risks missing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If he plays hurt, he could compromise the remainder of his NHL season — or worse.
Bryan Hayes argued that there might not be much the Maple Leafs can do. “At the end of the day, it’s up to Nylander,” Hayes said. “If he wants to risk it playing for Team Sweden, there’s not much Toronto can do.”
Hayes pointed out that the NHL Players’ Association pushed for Olympic participation, which limits how much control teams actually have. In this scenario, the Leafs can only hope Nylander is mature enough to make the right call for himself.
“He’s too important to Sweden,” Hayes added. “He knows that. There’s going to be pressure from inside that group to get him playing.” If he feels like he can go, it’s fair to assume that Nylander is going to push it.
Does It Really Matter Anyway?
Perhaps context matters here. Toronto’s position in the standings complicates the situation, as the Maple Leafs sit well outside the playoff picture. The likelihood they get in is slim, and Nylander may not feel the same obligation to prioritize the NHL season.
It’s a somewhat valid argument. If Nylander feels Toronto’s season is lost, and he’s got a small window to play in the Olympic Games, he’s probably prioritizing the latter. From Toronto’s perspective, it’s a problematic scenario. A compromised Nylander returning at less than 100 percent doesn’t help a team already fighting uphill.
McLennan believes there’s something bigger going on. If true, that alone makes this a big storyline worth watching.
