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Alexander Nylander

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In this article, the surname is Nylander Altelius.
Alexander Nylander
Nylander at the 2023 AHL All Star Classic Game
Born (1998-03-02) 2 March 1998 (age 26)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Toronto Maple Leafs
Buffalo Sabres
Chicago Blackhawks
Pittsburgh Penguins
Columbus Blue Jackets
National team  Sweden
NHL draft 8th overall, 2016
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 2016–present

Alexander Maximilian Michael Junior Nylander Altelius[1] (born 2 March 1998) is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL entry draft.[2]

Playing career

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Major junior

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Nylander with the Mississauga Steelheads in 2016

Nylander was selected 12th overall by the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) at the 2015 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft. On 5 September 2015, Nylander committed to the Steelheads with his father joining as assistant coach. His reasons for joining include being close to his brother William and having the chance to play the Canadian style of hockey.[3]

In his only season with the Steelheads, Nylander led all rookies in scoring, and was awarded both the Emms Family Award as OHL Rookie of the Year and CHL Rookie of the Year.[4][5]

Leading up to the NHL draft, Nylander was ranked the No. 3 North American skater. He was described as a dynamic offensive player with a great shot and playmaking ability.[6]

Professional

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Nylander was selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2016 NHL Draft. On 15 July 2016, the Sabres signed Nylander to a three-year entry-level contract.[7] Nylander was called up to the NHL for the first time on 3 April 2017, to play in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.[8] Nylander played 14:28 minutes during the 4–2 loss.[8] After playing four games in the NHL he was reassigned back to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. The Sabres assigned Nylander to their AHL affiliate before finalizing their roster for the 2017–18 season.[9] Nylander suffered a lower-body injury in mid-September during the Buffalo Sabres' first prospect game, causing him to miss the rest of the training camp and the beginning of the 2017–18 AHL season.[10][11] He returned to the lineup on 17 November 2017, for a game against the Hartford Wolf Pack.[12] Despite a slow start, Nylander was called up to the NHL on 3 April 2018.[13] He recorded his first career NHL goal on 6 April 2018 in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[14] After the Sabres failed to qualify for the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, Nylander was reassigned to the AHL.[15]

On 9 July 2019, Nylander was traded by the Sabres to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for fellow first-rounder Henri Jokiharju and opted to wear sweater #92 with the club, the same number his father wore.[16] Nylander appeared in 65 games during the condensed 2019–20 NHL season for the Blackhawks, where he recorded 10 goals and 16 assists.[17] Nylander appeared in eight postseason games for Chicago but failed to register a point.[17] He injured his left knee in the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, and missed the entire 2020–21 NHL season while recovering from surgery.[17] Nylander re-signed with Chicago on a one-year contract worth $874,125 on 16 August 2021.[18] Beginning the 2021–22 season on the injured reserve, Nylander missed the first half of the season.[19]

On returning to health, Nylander was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, in exchange for Sam Lafferty on 5 January 2022.[19] He split time between Pittsburgh and their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He signed a one-year contract extension on 29 April 2023 with Pittsburgh.[20]

In the midst of the 2023–24 season, having split time between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Pittsburgh for the third successive season, Nylander was traded following five games with the Penguins, along with a conditional 2026 sixth round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Emil Bemström on 23 February 2024.[21] Instantly joining the Blue Jackets, Nylander made his debut with Columbus in a 4–2 victory over the New York Rangers on 25 February 2024,[22] and recorded his first NHL hat trick in a 6–3 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on 4 March 2024.[23] In an elevated offensive role with the Blue Jackets, Nylander responded in notching a career best 11 goals and through just 23 games to close out the season.

As a free agent from the Blue Jackets at the conclusion of his contract, Nylander was unable to secure an NHL deal and opted to sign a one-year AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, affiliate to the Toronto Maple Leafs on 28 July 2024.[24] Nylander began the 2024–25 season, posting 8 goals and 12 points in 14 appearances with the Marlies. With the Maple Leafs suffering a spate of injuries, he was signed to a one-year league minimum contract and instantly recalled to the Maple Leafs on 22 November 2024.[25]

International play

[edit]
Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2018 United States
IIHF World U18 Championship
Silver medal – second place 2016 United States

Despite being born in Canada, like his brother, Nylander represents Sweden in international play.

At the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championships held in Helsinki, Nylander led the Swedish team in points with four goals and five assists.[26] Team Sweden finished fourth at the tournament.

Nylander was also chosen to represent Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championships.[27] Nylander led Team Sweden to the silver medal in the 2018 World Junior Championships where he had 1 goal and 6 assists in 7 games. He was also awarded Player of the game.

Personal life

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Alexander was born in Calgary while his father, Michael, played for the Calgary Flames.[28] He spent the majority of his youth in the United States where his father played for a multitude of NHL teams, and spending the summers in Sweden.[29][30]

His older brother, William also plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was also drafted 8th overall, 2 years earlier.[31]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 AIK J20 42 15 25 40 12 2 0 1 1 0
2014–15 AIK Allsv 3 0 0 0 0 4 1 1 2 0
2015–16 Mississauga Steelheads OHL 57 28 47 75 18 6 6 6 12 2
2016–17 Rochester Americans AHL 65 10 18 28 6 — — — — —
2016–17 Buffalo Sabres NHL 4 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2017–18 Rochester Americans AHL 51 8 19 27 10 3 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Buffalo Sabres NHL 3 1 0 1 0 — — — — —
2018–19 Rochester Americans AHL 49 12 19 31 12 — — — — —
2018–19 Buffalo Sabres NHL 12 2 2 4 4 — — — — —
2019–20 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 65 10 16 26 10 8 0 0 0 2
2021–22 Rockford IceHogs AHL 23 8 4 12 2 — — — — —
2021–22 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 44 14 16 30 8 6 3 3 6 0
2022–23 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 55 25 25 50 8 — — — — —
2022–23 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 9 1 1 2 6 — — — — —
2023–24 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 43 17 15 32 6 — — — — —
2023–24 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 5 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2023–24 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 23 11 4 15 6 — — — — —
NHL totals 121 25 24 49 26 8 0 0 0 2

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2014 Sweden U17 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 2 5 7 0
2015 Sweden IH18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 2 4 6 6
2016 Sweden U18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 3 8 11 0
2016 Sweden WJC 4th 7 4 5 9 0
2017 Sweden WJC 4th 7 5 7 12 0
2018 Sweden WJC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 1 6 7 2
2023 Sweden WC 6th 8 0 2 2 2
Junior totals 32 14 27 41 8
Senior totals 8 0 2 2 2

References

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  1. ^ "Alexander Maximiliam Michael Junior Nylander Altelius" (in Swedish). Ratsit.se.
  2. ^ "Sabres Stand Pat at No. 8, Select Alexander Nylander". TWC News. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Alex Nylander excited to join family in Toronto". Mississauga Steelheads. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Alexander Nylander named OHL Rookie of the Year – Ontario Hockey League". new.ontariohockeyleague.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  5. ^ "CHL announces 2015–16 Award winners". CHL Network. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Dubois jumps to top of draft rankings". NHL.com. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Sabres ink Nylander to entry-level deal". sabres.nhl.com. 15 July 2016. Archived from the original on 18 July 2016.
  8. ^ a b LaBarber, Jourdon (3 April 2017). "Slow start costs Sabres in loss to Maple Leafs". Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved 20 February 2018 – via NHL.com.
  9. ^ "Sabres assign Nylander to AHL". TSN. The Canadian Press. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  10. ^ Harrington, Mike (3 October 2017). "Sabres Notebook: Griffith cracks final roster at forward". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  11. ^ Harrington, Mike (17 October 2017). "Where is Alex Nylander? On the mend". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  12. ^ Wozniak, Keith (17 November 2017). "Amerks Game Day Notes: Relying on Depth, Return of Rodrigues and Nylander". letsgoamerks.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  13. ^ Moritz, Amy (3 April 2018). "Sabres Notebook: Nylander, Porter recalled from Rochester". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  14. ^ Harrington, Mike (6 April 2018). "Mittelstadt, Nylander net first career goals in wild first period". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  15. ^ Vogl, John (8 April 2018). "With season over, Sabres send eight back to Amerks". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  16. ^ "Blackhawks acquire Alexander Nylander". Chicago Blackhawks. 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019 – via NHL.com.
  17. ^ a b c "Nylander out 4-6 months for Blackhawks after knee surgery". National Hockey League. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  18. ^ Pope, Ben (16 August 2021). "Blackhawks re-sign wing Alex Nylander to one-year contract". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Penguins Acquire Alex Nylander from Chicago in Exchange for Sam Lafferty". Pittsburgh Penguins. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022 – via NHL.com.
  20. ^ "Penguins re-sign forward Alex Nylander to one-year, $775K contract". Sportsnet. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Blue Jackets acquire Alex Nylander, draft pick for Emil Bemstrom". Columbus Blue Jackets. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024 – via NHL.com.
  22. ^ "Merzlikins stops 38, Blue Jackets end Rangers' winning streak". Columbus Blue Jackets. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024 – via NHL.com.
  23. ^ Portzline, Aaron (4 March 2024). "Alex Nylander's hat trick leads Blue Jackets to improbable win: 'A great first week'". The Athletic. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  24. ^ "Toronto Marlies sign Alex Nylander". Toronto Marlies. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  25. ^ "Maple Leafs sign Alex Nylander to a one-year contract". Toronto Maple Leafs. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  26. ^ "Nylander nets a pair in Sweden's World Juniors opener". Buffalo Sabres. 26 December 2016.
  27. ^ Ryan McKenna (20 December 2017). "Sabres assign Alex Nylander to Sweden's world junior team". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  28. ^ "Ex-NHL player Michael Nylander and sons William and Alex making Ontario hockey a family affair". National Post. 22 October 2015.
  29. ^ "Steelheads select Nylander and Haudum in 2014 CHL Import Draft". 2 July 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
  30. ^ "Canadian-born Nylander honing his craft over in Sweden". 28 August 2013. Archived from the original on 7 September 2013.
  31. ^ "Swedish star Alexander Nylander excited to join dad, brother in Toronto area". NHL.com. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick
2016 		Succeeded by
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