Alex Nylander split his time last season between the NHL and AHL last season but put up good numbers with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Sunday that they signed Swedish forward Alex Nylander to an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies.
The 26-year-old split his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets organizations in 2023-24. After acquiring the player from Pittsburgh, Nylander stayed with the Blue Jackets where’s he recorded 11 goals and added four assists in 23 games.
Despite the production, the Blue Jackets elected not extend a qualifying offer to the Swede, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Alex, the younger brother of Maple Leafs star, William, has had a tough time finding his footing at the NHL level. Selected in the first round (eighth overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft, Alex has played just 121 NHL games spread over six seasons where he scored 25 goals and added 24 assists.
Over the summer, the Nylander brothers had posted photos of them working out together and we at The Hockey News pondered if the Leafs would have any interest in signing the younger brother.
With an AHL contract, Alex would likely earn an invite the Leafs training camp this fall. If he impresses to a point where his services would be needed with the Maple Leafs, the franchise could always convert the deal to an NHL deal. By keeping the contract at an AHL, the Leafs don’t use up one of their 50 NHL contract slots and can use the time to evaluate Alex and see if he can become a useful depth add on offense.
The Leafs look particularly thin on depth forwards this year and this could present Alex an opportunity to an opportunity in the NHL. Nick Robertson, for example, remains unsigned and the restricted free agent reportedly requested to be traded out of Toronto
And if Alex can’t win a spot with the Leafs, he provides proven scoring at the AHL level that could be beneficial with the Marlies. Alex had 17 goals and 15 assists in 43 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL last season.
