Ex-Leaf Jay Rosehill blasts William Nylander with blunt ‘grow up’ message

Former NHL forward Jay Rosehill has delivered a sharp message to William Nylander after the Toronto Maple Leafs endured a difficult season. His comments came during the latest episode of Leafs Morning Take, where frustration around the team’s leadership took center stage.

The Maple Leafs finished with a 32–36–14 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in years. Injuries to key players, including Auston Matthews and Chris Tanev, disrupted momentum. Defensive issues and inconsistency led to a poor goal differential and long losing streaks, especially late in the season.

Rosehill did not hold back while discussing Nylander’s role within the group. He questioned the winger’s response to adversity and pointed to a lack of visible accountability.

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“I can’t help but think that looking at it, being in that room and looking at how this team was struggling and missed the mark, and all the turmoil and all the falling from grace and the negativity that was this season,” Rosehill said. “When you look at why, I can’t help but look like, ‘Willie, you’re supposed to be the guy that kept us on the rails.’ Grow up.”

Rosehill expected Nylander to keep the team steady during a chaotic campaign. Instead, he argued the situation reflected deeper culture issues inside the locker room.

“And if you talk about culture problems, and issues with the leadership and stuff. I don’t think you have to look very far,” Rosehill said. “It’s screaming from the mountaintops. Everything William Nylander does is pissing people off, and he does not say anything towards the Stanley Cup-contending team.

“And you are supposed to be the tip of the spear with that stuff. I can’t help but think, if culture needs to change, Willie needs to change drastically. That was embarrassing yesterday.”

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