Noted Leonardo DiCaprio lookalike William Nylander has been announced as March’s NHL Rookie of the Month.
Nylander put up 14 points (4G, 10A) in 14 GP to claim the honour. He continues to be the engine of the Leafs’ deadly power play unit and now has 58 points on the season. His victory is well-deserved, and his play in earning it has helped the Leafs draw closer to a playoff spot.
The award is Nylander’s second of the season, having previously won in October. It’s also the Leafs’ fourth award of the season: in addition to Nylander’s two wins, Auston Matthews took the prize in December, while Mitch Marner nabbed it in January. It’s not unheard of for the same player to win twice in one season—Connor McDavid won ROTM three times last year—but it’s unprecedented for one team to have three different rookies win it.
One parting thought: if Nylander and Marner can get two points apiece in their final six games, the Leafs will have the first trio of rookies to clear 60 points together since the Quebec Nordiques in 1980-81. Either way, though: this is one hell of a young team.