Billy HeyenFri, November 28, 2025 at 7:13 PM UTC·1 min readWilliam Nylander makes Maple Leafs history not done since Babe Pratt in 1942 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't seen a start to a season like this since 1942.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSeriously, William Nylander is doing something almost unprecedented.
Nylander has played 20 games this season. Through those 20 games, he has 11 goals and 20 assists.
According to Sportsnet, Nylander is the second player in Maple Leafs history to have 10 goals and 20 assists through his first 20 games.
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The first to do it was Babe Pratt in 1942-43. Pratt had 10 goals and 21 assists through 20 games that year with Toronto.
The Maple Leafs finished in third place in the NHL in that 1942-43 season. They were coached by Hap Day and captained by Syl Apps. They did lead the league in goals as a team, but they were knocked out in the league semifinals by the Detroit Red Wings.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPratt was a lefty shot defenseman who is now in the Hall of Fame. His full name was Walter Basil Pratt, but he went by Babe.
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Interestingly, Pratt started the 1942-43 season with the New York Rangers. But immediately upon joining the Maple Leafs, he went off.
So it's not quite the same as Nylander beginning the season like this, but it's still quite impressive, maybe even more so.
Regardless, it's rare company for Nylander, joining a Hall of Famer from more than 80 years ago on an exclusive list.
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