Alex Nylander has never been able to make his mark in the NHL since being selected by the Sabers in the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo eight years ago. Even after an impressive performance late last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the former first-rounder was unable to find another opportunity in the NHL and is now on the move again, signing an AHL contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday .
After a stellar showing at the 2016 World Juniors for Sweden and a stellar year with the Ontario Hockey League’s Mississauga Steelheads, Nylander was selected eighth overall, ahead of the likes of Mikhail Sergachev, Charlie McAvoy, Jakob Chychrun and current Meet Tage Thompson. The winger spent three seasons in the Buffalo organization, splitting time between the NHL and AHL Rochester before being traded to Henri Jokiharju in Chicago in July 2019.
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Nylander scored a career-high 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 65 games for the Hawks in the COVID-shortened 2019–20 season, but was demoted to AHL Rockford the following season and traded to Pittsburgh for Sam Lafferty in January 2022 Leafs winger’s younger brother William had his greatest success with the Penguins AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, scoring 112 points (56 goals, 56 assists) in 142 games over three seasons, but played just 14 games in the NHL with the Penguins. before being traded to the Blue Jackets in February for winger Emil Bemstrom.
The 26-year-old winger made the most of his opportunity with Columbus, scoring 11 goals in 23 games, but the Blue Jackets chose not to make him a qualifying offer. With Toronto, young Nylander could eventually get an NHL contract, but he will begin a minor league contract and play for the Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.
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