William Nylander's role shifting under Maple Leafs coach Jim Hiller

Maple Leafs coach Jim Hiller wants William Nylander more involved in the breakout, he said after Wednesday's practice.

The numbers don't scream problem. Nylander has 10 goals and 21 points in 17 games, and he has five points over his last five. Still, something about his game hasn't looked right lately.

Hiller sees it too. He told reporters he's used to watching Nylander carry the puck through the neutral zone, take defenders wide and give Toronto another scoring option, and those chances haven't been showing up. It fits with Jim Hiller's message to William Nylander earlier this week.

Nylander has admitted it's been a strange season. He's producing, but he doesn't have the puck as much as he's used to.

So Hiller's fix is a small change in geography. Spend less time waiting for the puck in the neutral zone, and drop back into the Leafs' own end to become the breakout option.

That's a real ask. It means fewer chances to fly up the ice, but it could give Nylander more control of the play by the time he reaches the offensive zone.

Can Nylander keep his edge in a deeper role?

Here's the risk. Nylander's instincts are what make him dangerous, and a winger who spends his shifts retrieving pucks isn't attacking with speed. Asking a 10-goal scorer to play lower is a gamble, and Hiller has to prove he can add the puck touches without sanding down the finish.

The timing matters. Toronto sits 8-7-2, seventh in the Atlantic Division, and lost 3-2 to Utah in its last game on Tuesday.

Help may be coming. John Tavares looks set to return against Montreal tonight, according to practice lines from Mark Masters, which would give Nylander another experienced option to play off.

That's the other piece of the puzzle. Nylander already pointed to William Nylander's view on Toronto's communication problem on Friday, and a breakout that works needs everyone reading the same page.

Tonight's puck drop against the Canadiens is the first look at whether Nylander's role actually shifts.

Quick hits

WASHINGTON CAPITALS: Prospect Lynden Lakovic picked up two primary assists just 1:27 apart in Hershey's 4-2 loss to Springfield on Friday. The result stings, but that's a nice reminder of what he can do.

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CAROLINA HURRICANES: The Hurricanes skated at Lane Arena this morning with an odd problem for the NHL's best team. They've been better away from Raleigh, and the Blackhawks are in town.

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COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: Kent Johnson tied the game in Buffalo last night, but the Blue Jackets still fell 5-2 to the Sabres. Johnson keeps producing, even if the results aren't following.

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MINNESOTA WILD: Kirill Kaprizov's four points helped the Wild beat the Sharks 4-1 and become the fastest team in NHL history to 1,000 wins, Michael Russo reports. Not a bad way to mark a milestone.

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ANAHEIM DUCKS: Cutter Gauthier scored the go-ahead goal as the Ducks rallied to beat the Flames 5-3 in Calgary. That ended Calgary's five-game winning streak.

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