I couldn’t help but notice former Penguin Alexander Nylander signed a minor-league deal with the Maple Leafs top farm club, the AHL Toronto Marlies. This on the heels of an apparent late-season breakout with the Blue Jackets last spring when he popped 11 goals in just 23 games, including a hat trick, after he was acquired from the Pens.
If anything, you’d think the hot streak would’ve finally established the former first-round pick as a bona fide NHLer. To the extreme contrary, it did nothing of the sort.
If there’s a more star-crossed player than Nylander, I sure can’t think of him. Drafted eighth overall by the Sabres in 2016 following a strong season in junior, he began his pro career at the callow age of 18 and, perhaps understandably, struggled to produce.
Following three fair-to-middling seasons spent mostly with the Rochester Americans, he was traded to the Blackhawks in July 2019 for defenseman Henri Jokiharju.
Given a fresh start and a shot at full-time duty with the rebuilding Hawks, Nylander notched 10 goals and 26 points in 65 games in what was essentially his rookie season…then blew out his left knee in the playoffs. Then 22, he missed the entire ’20-21 season while recovering from surgery.
While working his way back the following season Alex was dealt to the Pens on January 5, 2022, for Sam Lafferty. He proceeded to pile up a highly respectable 39 goals and 80 points in 99 games for the Baby Pens over the next season and change before earning a call-up to the bigs in March of ’22.
Playing in his first NHL regular-season game in nearly two years, Nylander collected an assist and finished a plus-2 to help the Pens to a 5-4 victory over the CBJ while skating on the second-line with Evgeni Malkin and Jason Zucker. In the process earning rave reviews from coach Mike Sullivan.
“So the coaches were really impressed with Alex’s game,” Sully said. “We knew he was a guy that could make plays. He’s got good offensive instincts. I think that that’s the strength of his game. But what really impressed us was just his 200-foot game, his game away from the puck, and some of the details of defending his strength along the walls and protecting pucks.”
I confess, I was as excited as the next black-and-gold fan over the prospect of unearthing a potential diamond in the rough and wrote an article to that effect.
Unfortunately, Nylander’s stellar debut would prove to be his high-water mark in the ‘Burgh. His ice time and usage gradually waned. Following five nondescript games last season, Alex was shipped to Columbus, where he caught lightning in a bottle.
Perhaps fearing a forced overpay through arbitration, incoming Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell declined to make the RFA winger a qualifying offer, making Nylander a free agent. Nobody bit until the Leafs extended him an olive branch yesterday…and perhaps a last chance to prove himself.
The good news? Alex will be playing in the same city as his super-star brother, William. Just not on the same team. At least not right away.
Here’s hoping the hockey gods smile on Alex and he receives an opportunity with the Leafs, who could use some depth scoring beyond their fabled Core Four. Maybe he’ll even get a chance to skate on a line with his brother.
Given the perseverance he’s displayed and the twists and turns he’s endured, it would be nice to see the kid finally get a break.
Oops
In my previous article, I mentioned the possibility of 18-year-old left wing Tanner Howe carving out a spot with the Pens this season. However, due to his age, Tanner won’t be eligible to play in the NHL till ’25-26 at the earliest.
My bad.
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Hey Rick,
I saw this.
Nat a Nylander fan. I didn’t like trading for him in the first place. I would have rather the team kept Lafferty.
Imagine a 4th line of Blueger and Lafferty for a couple of the intervening seasons since that trade. I am not sure I would still have either on the team now, at least for a couple of seasons, when our Pens were still somewhat of a legitimate hockey team – those 2 could have been very effective (and would have been under a better Coach).
As much as I didn’t like trading for Nylander, I also didn’t like the deal that sent him away. And it really goes to demonstrate how inadequate Sullivan is at talent evaluation. No one wanted Nylander, a player that out played Bumstrom in Columbus and in Pittsburgh, yet come training camp, watch our fearless leader do his best to justify a roster spot for that oxygen thief.