| Alexander Nylander | |||
|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Nylander at the 2023 AHL All Star Classic Game | |||
| Born | (1998-03-02)2 March 1998 (age 27) Calgary,Alberta, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams | Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Marlies (AHL) 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 professionalice hockeyforward for theToronto Marlies of theAmerican Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to theToronto Maple Leafs of theNational Hockey League (NHL). He was selected eighth overall by theBuffalo Sabres in the2016 NHL entry draft. He is the brother ofWilliam Nylander.[2] Like his brother, he was born in Canada while his fatherMichael played for theCalgary Flames, but represented Sweden internationally.
Nylander was selected 12th overall by theMississauga Steelheads of theOntario Hockey League (OHL) at the 2015Canadian 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 brotherWilliam 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 theEmms Family Award as OHL Rookie of the Year andCHL 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]
Nylander was selected eighth overall by theBuffalo Sabres of theNational Hockey League (NHL) in the2016 NHL entry 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 theToronto 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 theirAmerican Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, theRochester Americans. The Sabres assigned Nylander to their AHL affiliate before finalizing their roster for the2017–18 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 theHartford 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 theTampa Bay Lightning.[14] After the Sabres failed to qualify for the2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, Nylander was reassigned to the AHL.[15]
On 9 July 2019, Nylander was traded by the Sabres to theChicago Blackhawks in exchange for fellow first-rounderHenri Jokiharju and opted to wear sweater no. 92 with the club, the same number his father wore.[16] Nylander appeared in 65 games during the condensed2019–20 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 the2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, and missed the entire2020–21 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 the2021–22 season on the injured reserve, Nylander missed the first half of the season.[19]
On returning to health, Nylander was traded to thePittsburgh Penguins, in exchange forSam Lafferty on 5 January 2022.[19] He split time between Pittsburgh and their AHL affiliate, theWilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He signed a one-year contract extension on 29 April 2023 with Pittsburgh.[20]
In the midst of the2023–24 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 forEmil Bemström on 23 February 2024.[21] Instantly joining the Blue Jackets, Nylander made his debut with Columbus in a 4–2 victory over theNew York Rangers on 25 February 2024,[22] and recorded his first NHLhat trick in a 6–3 win against theVegas 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 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 theToronto Marlies of the AHL, affiliate to the Toronto Maple Leafs on 28 July 2024.[24] Nylander began the2024–25 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.[25] Nylander was assigned to the Toronto Marlies after he cleared waivers on 12 December.[26]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Sweden | ||
| Men'sice hockey | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
 | 2018 United States | |
| IIHF World U18 Championship | ||
| 2016 United States | |
Despite being born inCanada, like his brother, Nylander represents Sweden in internationally.
At the2016 World Junior Championships, Nylander led theSweden junior team in points with four goals and five assists.[27] Sweden finished fourth in the tournament. Nylander was also chosen to represent Sweden at the2018 World Junior Championships.[28] In the tournament Nylander recorded one goal and six assists in seven games, while Sweden won silver medals.
Alexander was born inCalgary while his father,Michael, played for theCalgary Flames.[29]He spent the majority of his youth in theUnited States where his father played for a multitude of NHL teams, and spending the summers inSweden.[30][31]
His older brother,William also plays for theToronto Maple Leafs. He was also drafted 8th overall, 2 years earlier.[32]
| 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 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2024–25 | Toronto Marlies | AHL | 64 | 23 | 21 | 44 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 126 | 25 | 24 | 49 | 32 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Sweden | U17 |  | 6 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2015 | Sweden | IH18 |  | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | |
| 2016 | Sweden | U18 | | 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 | | 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 | ||||
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick 2016 | Succeeded by |