William Nylander made it quite clear he did not want attention while watching Sunday’s game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Colorado Avalanche.
With the struggling Maple Leafs down 3-0 to the league-leading Avs in the third period, TSN cameras panned to the club’s press box, where Nylander was joined by other injured or healthy-scratched Leafs players.
After noticing that he was on camera during the lopsided loss, a frustrated Nylander quickly stuck up his middle finger before the network could cut away.
Nylander, joined in the box by Chris Tanev, Dakota Joshua, Calle Jarnkrok, and Philippe Myers, has missed the last five games for the Leafs with a groin injury. Toronto has won just one of those games without Nylander, their leading scorer with 48 points (17g, 31a), out of the lineup.
After the moment obviously went viral on social media, Nylander apologized via his Instagram Story, placing a heart emoji over a screenshot of him flipping the bird.
“Only love for leafs nation,” Nylander wrote. “sorry about my moment of frustration today! didn’t mean to upset anyone. looking forward to being back on the ice and not in the stands. love willy.”
He apologized for a second time on Monday after Leafs practice, explaining how he immediately regretted his choice of expression.
“Sitting there, I got a text message – I was like, ‘Oh, not a good idea. Not a good thing to do'” Nylander added Monday. “But, yeah, like I said, I apologize about that.”
Despite the public apologies, Nylander may face consequences for expressing his unhappiness on national television. According to TSN’s Chris Johnston, the NHL is looking into the incident, and it’s possible Nylander will face some form of punishment.
The Maple Leafs eventually dropped the game 4-1 to the Avalanche, which was their fourth home loss in a row and their sixth defeat in seven games. Toronto currently sits five points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Nylander has recently resumed skating, but the Maple Leafs have yet to provide a timeline for his expected return to game action. The 29-year-old winger is due to represent Sweden as one of his nation’s star players at next month’s Milano-Cortina Olympics.
Update, 6:40 pm: Nylander has been fined $5,000 by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
Per a press release from the NHL:
Maple Leafs’ Nylander Fined for Inappropriate Gesture
NEW YORK (Jan. 26, 2026) – Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander has been fined $5,000 for making an inappropriate gesture during NHL Game No. 819 in Toronto on Sunday, Jan. 25, the National Hockey League announced today.
Nylander’s gesture is a violation of the League’s policy which prohibits inappropriate and offensive remarks, and the use of obscene, profane or abusive language or gestures in the game.
“Nylander directed an inappropriate gesture at a television camera operator while the camera was directed at Mr. Nylander and his teammates in the press box. The gesture was shown live on-air during the game broadcast,” said NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety George Parros. “This serves as a reminder the code of conduct governing Players extends throughout the arena at NHL games and in public game situations.”
The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
