Craig Berube on William Nylander's (overblown) middle-finger incident: "I mean, come on... He knows it's wrong, and he owned up to it"

"He made a mistake. He owned up to it. Things happen. People make mistakes. Players make mistakes. Coaches make mistakes. It happens. I mean, come on. He knows it's wrong, and he owned up to it. He wants to play. He wants to be here helping the team, for sure. Willy has gone a long time in his career without missing games. It has been different this year for him."

"How important is it to get Nylander into a game or two before the Olympics? Is that part of the thinking? Berube: Well, the only thing we are thinking of is helping our team. I get the Olympics are coming, and it is important to his country and to the players, but we are looking at getting him back in as quickly as we can to help our team."

William Nylander apologized for an on-camera gesture and acknowledged frustration. The organization viewed it as a mistake that he owned up to. Nylander is eager to play but has suffered a reinjury after returning, creating frustration for player and team. The team cannot replace Nylander with a single player; the group must collectively fill his absence. The coaching staff prioritizes returning Nylander as quickly as possible to help the team, with Olympic considerations secondary to team needs. An unexpected indoor practice replaced a planned outdoor session due to weather. Players are continuing rehabilitation and the team remains focused on performance.

Read at Maple Leafs Hotstove