A trio of Leafs players comment on Nylander's breakout campaign

Fast forward to the present and that same "overpaid" Nylander is one point behind Mitch Marner for the team lead in points, while pacing the goal scoring ahead of Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Marner. Nylander has never had a point-per-game pace season but this season he looks likely to shatter all of his career highs as he currently sits with 30 goals, 34 assists, and 64 points in just 55 games. He's only 4 goals, 12 assists, 16 points away from his career high he set last season - and he has 27 games remaining in the season with which to continue racking up the points.

His production and consistency has been at the forefront of the success that has carried the Maple Leafs all season and it hasn't been lost on his teammates either.

Reigning MVP, Auston Matthews was quoted as saying:

"The consistency factor has been great to see. You know, he's just all over it every single game."

Captain, John Tavares, chimed in as well:

"I just him always on the front foot... He's just making it happen."

Even his fellow-countryman, Rasmus Sandin had some glowing remarks:

"It feels like he's very hungry out there."

The consistency that they're talking about is based on the fact that Nylander has recorded a point in 9 of his last 11 games, where he has chipped in with 8 goals and 17 points while firing 43 shots on goal and converting at a ridiculous 18.6% rate.

We can even go back to start of December where he has scored 16 goals and 38 points in his last 28 games. He's also converting at a 14% rate and averaging 19:03 TOI in that span. Nylander is playing at an elite level and impressing his all-star teammates along the way.

While Burkie may have viewed Nylander as a problem for this team, the truth is closer to the fact that Nylander was actually just the first piece that truly kicked off the Leafs' rebuild. It just took him awhile to get going.