Babcock expects Nylander to remain with Maple Leafs

It sounds as though William Nylander will be with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the rest of the season.

The 19-year-old's played eight games with the big club since his recall from the AHL, and the club will burn the first year of his entry-level contract should he hit the 10-game mark Thursday against the Florida Panthers.

While the ultimate decision doesn't rest with Mike Babcock, the head coach expects Nylander will remain up with the Maple Leafs for their final 14 games, according to TSN's Mark Masters.

Babcock added that Nylander and fellow prospect Connor Brown could have made the Maple Leafs out of training camp.

Brown's one of the Maple Leafs' prized prospects yet to get the call to the NHL. He impressed with 61 points in his rookie season in the AHL last year and has 24 points in 28 games with the Toronto Marlies in 2015-16. Toronto has one regular AHL call-up remaining, so it's possible Brown could yet make his NHL debut.

Nylander said he hasn't been told one way or another whether he'll be reporting to the Air Canada Centre on Thursday or the Ricoh Coliseum, a short drive away.

"We'll have to see what they decide," he said, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Nylander has two goals in eight games, averaging 16 minutes of ice time. He has a 53.89 percent Corsi For rating, according to War On Ice.