“They are not Stanley Cup contender,” Craig Button BLASTS Maple Leafs players for failing to support William Nylander after forward was taken out in recent game

Analyst Craig Button has slammed the Toronto Maple Leafs' players for not standing up to their teammate William Nylander.

“They are not Stanley Cup contender,” Craig Button BLASTS Maple Leafs players for failing to support William Nylander after forward was taken out in recent game

Craig Button and William Nylander [Pic Credit: YouTube/AP]

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the most popular franchises in the NHL. However, despite the star players on their team, they are unable to land the crown they are desperate for. Analyst Craig Button has now given the reason why they are not the real contenders for the title following their defeat against the Florida Panthers.

The Leafs suffered elimination at the hands of the Panthers last time out. During that, the performances of their marquee players were criticized. Button has now slammed the team following an incident regarding William Nylander.

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Nylander was hit in the game by the Panthers’ Dmitri Kulikov. It could have been a serious play. However the issue according to Button is that his teammates did not stand up in his support. According to Craig Button, this move by Nylander’s teammates showcased what they were missing the most in the locker room – the team spirit.

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"They played the Florida Panthers on Thursday night, the team that took them out of the playoffs and pushed them around. What happens, William Nylander gets drilled from behind by Kulikov, and nothing! Crickets! And this team, everyone talks about being a Stanley Cup contender. I don't see it. Until they stand up for themselves... they're not a Stanley Cup contender."
Craig Button interview on YouTube

He would later recall how during a preseason game in Vegas, Mark Stone, Alex Pietrangelo, and Alec Martinez stood up after Stone was bashed aside by Hayden Hodgson.

Craig Button’s fiery statements raise questions regarding the Maple Leafs’ locker room atmosphere

After William Nylander was taken out by Dmriti Kulkov, the action continued like normal. On second viewing, the impact looked more dangerous which could have resulted in a major injury to Nylander. This incident and statements by Craig Button have raised questions regarding the locker room atmosphere of the Maple Leafs.

Craig Button
Craig Button (Pic Credit: Hockey Prospect)

While fights and hits in hockey are a common thing, this could have been a dangerous moment for Nylander. On several occasions when fights or hits like this take place, teammates have backed their fallen partner. The Maple Leafs stars though decided to proceed with the game without glancing back at Nylander, who could have been in serious trouble. This lack of effort from them drew out this reaction from Button.

Now was Button harsh in his criticism? Could the Maple Leafs have done better to stand up for the fallen teammate? These are all the questions that are in the minds of fans. The answer to these questions is up for a big debate on social media.

The performances of the Maple Leafs are also under the spotlight. After winning the first two games of the season, with hat tricks from Auston Matthews in both of those games, they lost the next two. They will have the chance to bounce back on Saturday night when they take to the field to face the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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