Leafs’ William Nylander: ‘I don’t know if I’ve felt like this before’

If fans already didn’t feel discouraged enough about the Toronto Maple Leafs, the guys in the room are starting to share the sentiment.

Following another lackluster performance on Sunday night, resulting in a 5-1 loss to the Dallas Stars, the Maple Leafs have lost three games in a row and five of the team’s last six.

Forward William Nylander, Toronto’s most productive player over the first three months of the season, was seemingly at a loss for words when trying to describe his feelings about the team’s most recent slide.

The Calgary-born winger was asked if he’s ever been in a stretch like this in his career.

“Like, with losing?” Nylander questioned. “I don’t know if I’ve felt like this before, or I had a stretch like this. I’m not sure. I don’t feel like I’ve had that in the NHL, at least.”

Nylander himself was held pointless in Dallas on Sunday, marking the third game in a row where that has been the case. He and John Tavares were the lone Leafs to have plus/minus ratings of -3 against the Stars.

The 29-year-old has been the most consistent offensive weapon for the Leafs this season. With 11 goals and 25 assists for 36 points in 31 appearances, he’s the only regular to be averaging a point per game thus far. Yet, that certainly hasn’t led to the team’s overall success.

With Christmas just a few days away, Toronto is in a spot that it hasn’t been in quite some time. With a 15-15-5 record, the team sits last in the Atlantic Division, even behind the surging Buffalo Sabres, and is just one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the worst record in the Eastern Conference. The Leafs are currently six points back of the last Wild Card spot as well.

The last time the team was this far out of a postseason position at this point of the season was before Auston Matthews was even in the league. 35 games into the 2015-16 campaign, Toronto was last in the division and nine points back of a playoff spot. The following year, in Nylander and Matthews’ first full seasons with the club, the Leafs were just three points back of third in the Atlantic by late December.

From the outside, there seem to be numerous issues surrounding the team. Lack of enthusiasm on the ice, diminished energy when things start to go south. You could go into how the power play has been far from par, and how Matthews’ lack of offensive dominance is holding the team back. However, with all the talent the Leafs have in the locker room, regardless of injuries, this team, on paper, should be in a much more favorable spot with just over a week to go before the New Year.

Then again, that’s why you play the games.

The Leafs are back home on Tuesday afternoon to host the Pittsburgh Penguins, with a special 4 p.m. ET start time.