William Nylander’s 2026-27 fantasy hockey outlook comes down to one important question: Can he stay healthy long enough to turn an elite scoring pace into his first 100-point season?
Based on his supplied totals of 30 goals and 49 assists for 79 points in only 65 games last season, my projection has Nylander producing 38 goals and 59 assists for 97 points in 79 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
That puts him just below the 100-point milestone, but his ceiling is unquestionably higher. Nylander’s previous production translates to approximately 100 points over a complete 82-game schedule. His combination of speed, controlled-zone entries, shooting ability and premium power-play deployment gives him one of the strongest fantasy profiles among NHL right wingers.
The concern is not whether Nylander can create offence. He has already answered that question. The variable fantasy managers must evaluate is availability. Should he play 80 or more games while maintaining his role alongside Toronto’s best offensive players, Nylander could finish with somewhere between 100 and 105 points.
William Nylander Point Projections for the 2026-27 NHL Season
| Category | Projection |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 79 |
| Goals | 38 |
| Assists | 59 |
| Points | 97 |
| Fantasy Range | 88–105 points |
My projection model begins with Nylander’s 1.22 points-per-game production from last season and adjusts for three factors: expected games played, natural year-to-year scoring variation and continued access to Toronto’s top power-play unit.
A straight 82-game conversion of Nylander’s previous totals would produce approximately 38 goals, 62 assists and 100 points. I have lowered the assist projection slightly rather than assuming he will reproduce the exact same pace across an entire season.
That small regression produces a more realistic baseline without ignoring his 100-point upside.
William Nylander Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 750 | 292 | 399 | 691 | 20 |
| Playoffs | 67 | 26 | 32 | 58 | -2 |
Nylander’s Maple Leafs Power-Play Role Protects His Fantasy Value
Nylander’s position on a Toronto Maple Leafs power-play unit featuring Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, John Tavares and Darren Raddysh provides an important layer of fantasy security.
Even when Nylander is not scoring at five-on-five, his ability to carry the puck through the neutral zone and attack defenders off the rush keeps him involved in Toronto’s highest-value offensive situations. He can serve as a shooter, distributor or primary zone-entry option, making him more difficult to remove from the top unit when the power play experiences a temporary slump.
From my perspective, Nylander is at his most dangerous when he is allowed to attack rather than being asked to play a conservative, possession-only game. His willingness to hold the puck for an extra second can occasionally frustrate coaches and fans, but that patience is also what allows him to open passing lanes that many NHL forwards cannot see.
His goal projection also carries upside. Nylander scored 30 times in 65 games last season, putting him on roughly a 38-goal pace over 82 games. A modest improvement in shooting percentage or additional games alongside an elite playmaker could push him past 40 goals.
Where Should Fantasy Hockey Managers Draft William Nylander?
Nylander should be treated as a high-end fantasy winger with a realistic opportunity to finish among the NHL’s top 20 scorers.
In standard points leagues, I would consider him near the end of the second round or early in the third round, depending on league size and positional requirements. His value rises in leagues that reward power-play points, shots on goal and goals more heavily than secondary categories such as blocked shots or penalty minutes.
Nylander’s floor is also stronger than it may initially appear. Even if he experiences mild regression and plays closer to 74 or 75 games, he should remain capable of finishing in the 85-to-90-point range. His ceiling becomes significantly more exciting if he stays healthy, receives consistent top-line minutes and approaches 82 games.
My final William Nylander point projections for 2026-27 are 38 goals, 59 assists and 97 points in 79 games. That makes him an excellent fantasy hockey target and one of Toronto’s most likely candidates to threaten the 100-point mark.
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