The announcement that the Marlies had inked Alex Nylander to a one-year AHL contract excited many Leafs fans at the prospect of him potentially playing alongside his older brother, William.
After all, Alex was fresh off a strong finish to the 2023-24 season and has a clear path to earning an NHL deal if he makes a strong impression with the Marlies to start the upcoming campaign. Combine that with the Leafs’ overall lack of secondary scoring and the need for some additional depth on the left wing and there is potential for this to be a great fit for both parties.
Of course, he will have to earn it and has nothing handed to him right away but it is certainly there for the taking if he wants it. As his journey back to the NHL begins, Alex spoke with the Toronto Sun’s Lance Hornby about his excitement about the prospects of cracking the Leafs roster and lining up alongside William.
“To be with him on the Leafs would be amazing, a dream come true,” Alex said. “I’ve watched him and the Leafs play a lot over the years and know a lot of what they do.”
Nylander’s career to this point has been tumultuous, to say the least. His development has never been a streamlined process due to him bouncing between the AHL and NHL numerous times after turning pro. The most significant setback was a left knee injury he suffered during the 2020 Playoffs that required him to get surgery to repair a meniscus tear. This resulted in him missing out on the entire 2021 COVID-shortened campaign and it took him nearly three years to make it back to the NHL. It’s one of many hurdles that Nylander has had to face throughout his career since being selected eighth overall by the Sabres in 2016, having already played for seven different teams before signing with the Marlies.
Now he is hoping that his latest appointment will be the ticket to revitalizing his career and ensuring his stay in the best league in the world is longer than just a cup of coffee. It is through those challenges that his mindset has evolved into understanding what he needs to do to finally maintain some stability in the NHL.
“I can bring the scoring, but I want to be more consistent day in, day out, move my feet more,” he said. “Keep those offensive instincts, but be a better two-way player.”
This won’t be Alex’s first foray into the Toronto market as he spent his draft year with the Mississauga Steelheads. Being near his brother and dad (who was also an assistant coach of the Steelheads) during that season helped propel him to the team lead in scoring.
That family connection also played a role in him securing a contract with the Marlies. Having his dad and brother help vouch for him to earn an opportunity in Toronto was certainly beneficial, but Alex knows he still has to prove himself if he wants to make it back to the NHL.
“We all had a lot of talk before free agency,” Alex said. “(Michael and William) were both in the conversation and Leafs management was really good. We all thought it would be the best to get the (AHL) contract, turn that around, build on last year. It was important I’d shown with the Blue Jackets what I can really do and strive to get even better.”
There will be many fans rooting for Nylander to finally get the stability he is looking for because he certainly has the talent to be an NHL player. He showed flashes of the potential that has yet to be fully realized during his brief stint with the Blue Jackets at the end of the last season but it was not enough to secure him a qualifying offer from Columbus.
Now that he has an AHL deal signed, Nylander is hungry and eager to reward Brad Treliving and company for entrusting faith in him to get is career back on track.
“When that time comes, I’ll have to prove myself,” he said. “The injury and all that is in the past. I’m more determined than ever. I’m ready for this.”
