Toronto Maple Leafs superstar forward William Nylander has finally shed light on the mysterious health issues that forced him to miss the first three games of the team’s 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs series against the Boston Bruins.
After playing all 82 regular-season games, Nylander’s sudden absence during the team’s first-round matchup left fans and analysts speculating about the cause.
Speaking in an interview with Swedish media outlet Expressen, Nylander disclosed that he was dealing with severe migraines, which were so intense they affected his vision.
“It’s okay,” Nylander said. “I can get (migraines) just sometimes. It comes out of nowhere. Sometimes, it just happens.”
Nylander revealed that the migraines were so debilitating during the playoffs that they made it impossible for him to see clearly, forcing him to sit out the first three games of the series until he felt better.
The forward, who is entering the first season of his eight-year, $92 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs, revealed that he’s spent the summer addressing the issue. “There are some things with my eyesight and things like that that I’ve looked at, but now it feels good,” Nylander said.
The Maple Leafs, without Nylander’s offensive production for those three games, ultimately lost the series in seven games to the Bruins. Nylander returned for the final four games, managing to score 3 goals.
Despite the team’s continued postseason struggles, Nylander remains hopeful in what lies ahead for the Leafs. He dismissed talk of a “curse” and believes the team’s breakthrough is just a matter of time.
“It’s not simple, but it will happen,” Nylander said.
Nylander is coming off a career-high season with 40 goals and 58 assists and will carry a cap hit of $11.5 million per season starting this year.
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