NHL columnist John Shannon gets brutally honest about William Nylander's leadership; draws sharp contrast to Auston Matthews

NHL insider John Shannon offered a direct and candid view of William Nylander’s leadership during a discussion on The Leafs Nation. He said Nylander is an elite talent but does not see him as a true leader.Shannon called Nylander one of the most entertaining players in the league, but made it clear that skill does not automatically equal leadership. He said fans and analysts often assume that the best players must also be the leaders of a team. In his view, that assumption does not always match reality."I'm not so sure," Shannon said, about Nylander being a leader. "I think he's a great player. To me, he's one of the most entertaining players to watch in the National Hockey League. But I'm not sure he's a leader."Shannon said the Maple Leafs still lack a clear "alpha dog," the player who pushes the group forward. He explained that some players lead through emotion and presence, not just production."The best players should just be able to be the best players; that doesn't make them Captain material," Shannon said. "We have this terrible assumption right now that if you're the best player, you have to lead, and I guess, lead by example."Shannon pointed to Auston Matthews as someone who showed that edge in his recent game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Leafs won that game 2-1 in overtime, with Nylander scoring the overtime winner. He had also provided an assist on the first goal scored by Easton Cowan.It was Matthews' first game following his return from his lower-body injury, and he did not score a point. But still, from Shannon's perspective, Matthews showed his leadership more than Nylander."Last night, I saw something out of Auston Matthews that I haven't seen in a while," Shannon said. "And he had a chip on his shoulder a couple of times, whether it was yelling at the ref or yelling at the jackets. There was a little bit more there. We'll never get that out of William Nylander."Shannon viewed that as a sign of a player trying to take charge. He repeated that this is not a criticism of Nylander’s play, only an honest view of his personality.John Shannon talked about William Nylander 2.0John Shannon added that William Nylander’s “2.0” version remains one of the Leafs’ most valuable players. He praised his talent, creativity, and ability to excite fans with highlight-level moments."What we will see is we will see William Nylander 2.0, great skill, great talent, and we'll get you out of your seat every once in a while, but I'm not going to be looking to him for leadership," Shannon said. "I'm not."Shannon said he would not look to Nylander to drive the team in crucial stretches. His remarks highlight an ongoing debate in Toronto about leadership and emotional presence. The Leafs continue to rely on Matthews, Nylander, and John Tavares to set the tone.