“Out on the ice, everything else disappears”: William Nylander on growing up in an NHL family – and his taste for designer fashion

Last week, Stockholm was graced by a visit from ice hockey man of the moment, Maple Leafs' star player William Nylander, who has been making headlines recently for his moves both on and off the ice. The 27-year-old currently holds the league's record for most consecutive goals in a season – a streak he maintained at both of the Maple Leafs' matches in Stockholm for the NHL Global Series, where he not only had the fans cheering him on, but his whole family.

“It feels really special. My grandma’s going to the game, she hasn’t seen me play yet. And all my friends and family, like my little cousins," he says. We’re sitting in a suite at the Grand Hôtel a few days before William's games at the Avicii Arena. Despite his packed schedule and constant entourage, he’s relaxed. Cheekily muttering one-liners, making everyone laugh and feel comfortable.

Three of William's four sisters are part of the entourage. As we’re chatting, he glances over at them, inviting them to chime in. You can tell they’re a tight-knit family and the fact that so many of them will be there on Sunday – young and old – means a lot to him. William cherishes his diverse range of fans as well, especially the younger cohort. “It's the kids in Sweden that might look up to us, who will get to see us up close, and get excited to play themselves," he says.

That was once William and his 25-year-old brother Alexander (who also plays professionally for the AHL). Young kids who idolised star players and brimmed with excitement to play themselves. One of those who the brothers idolised was their own father, hockey legend Michael Nylander, who played for the NHL while they were growing up. “We were always around [hockey], it just became our life," William recalls. "And because I was so close to it, it didn’t feel like an unreachable goal. I always believed that I would play in the NHL. I didn’t know how good I would be, but I knew that I was meant to be playing.”

In a turning of the tables, William's dad was one of the family members roaring in the crowds as William scored the winning goal at Sunday's Leafs match against Minnesota Wild. Despite his dad’s success and close involvement in his career today, William says he's never felt any external pressure. “I think the pressure I feel all comes from me. I put a lot of pressure on myself to play well. But I still stay even and stable.” He loves to win, but remains balanced by making sure he doesn't dwell on self-criticism. “You can be hard on yourself for a moment, but then move on, focus on what’s next.”

While there's not much time for hobbies in William's world, fashion definitely sits at the top of the list. In his day to day style, his wardrobe is a balance of oversized silhouettes with clean lines and high fashion labels. “I shop at Dior a lot, the store is right by where I live.” “Yeah, Dior is your absolute favourite,” his sister chimes in. “And Chrome Hearts,” he continues. “I really like the Swedish brands as well, like Acne, and these looks,” he nods towards the racks of pieces from the likes of Eytys and Hope that he’s just been trying on for the Vogue Scandinavia shoot.

He’s rarely on social media, so William says his style inspiration mostly comes from those close to him. “If I’m honest, I look a lot at what my brother wears. Sometimes he gets clothes that are a little bit too much for me,” he chuckles. “It inspires me, I just tone it down a bit. Find things that are similar but a little bit more chilled. If I had to pick someone else though, it might be David Beckham.”

The fact that he doesn’t spend much time online hasn’t stopped him from going viral. Just the week before our conversation, a sneaky snapshot of William taking the subway to a match in Toronto popped up everywhere, praising him for his down-to-earth attitude. He has the same sense of groundedness when talking about his on-ice success. “When I’m in it, I’m so focused. You have to be. But sitting back and thinking about everything that’s happening, I see how amazing it is. Especially having put so much time into it. But day to day, I just have so much fun. I love what I’m doing; out on the ice, everything else disappears.”