If you have a William Nylander jersey so fight me – you’ll be thrilled to learn that thw Wee Willie millionaire is willing to foot the bill for you to change the number on it from 29 to 88. At a cost of between $80 and $100 a pop, this is clearly going to set Nylander back a few dollars, maybe even a few hundred thousand. But don’t worry. He’s 23 years old and his employer cut him a check for a cool $8.3 million July 1st.
Nylander announced on social media Monday that he plans to make the change to No. 88, the number he has worn with both Modo and the Swedish national team. He also graciously offered to pay the cost of having the previous digits removed and replaced with the new ones, provided it is done at the team’s official apparel retailer, thereby totally confirming the notion that even when Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment gives money away, it ends up coming right back to them.
Leaf fans are hoping the change of number signals a change in fortune for Nylander, who sat out until December in a contract dispute and struggled for much of the season to find his form. Leafs GM Kyle Dubas has vowed to keep his core together and not trade Nylander, so we’re going to go ahead and presume that Nylander has at least five more seasons to carve his niche with that number. Then again, things change quickly in this business and who knows? Nylander has 34 games to become the all-time leader in games played by a No. 88 for the Maple Leafs and maybe he doesn’t even get that far.
Go Leafs Go!
-Ian
Credits: thehockeynews.com & twitter.com
