The Toronto Maple Leafs made some spectacular additions this offseason which have improved their defensive depth, in addition to their organizational depth. With Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson becoming a member of the workforce on the again finish, the Maple Leafs didn’t cease there as they added a brand new goaltender in Anthony Stolarz and made certain to deliver again Nicholas Robertson who could have an elevated alternative to show himself as a worthy middle-six winger on the NHL stage. One participant who was a little bit of a shock addition was William Nylander’s brother, ahead Alex Nylander, who signed an American Hockey League (AHL) deal to play with the Toronto Marlies for the 2024-25 season.
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The explanation I name it stunning is that he claims to have had NHL contracts accessible after a powerful end to his 2023-24 marketing campaign with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and nonetheless selected to hitch the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate. Whereas it’s solely a one-year deal and it seemingly retains him within the AHL for the whole lot of the brand new season, Nylander has an opportunity to earn a two-way take care of the Maple Leafs throughout the season within the occasion of any accidents, or if he performs nicely sufficient with the Marlies to justify calling him up and utilizing him as a depth ahead.
Alex Nylander says he had NHL affords elsewhere however determined to take an AHL deal in Toronto as a substitute. Desires to earn an NHL deal right here. And sure, he’s dwelling along with his brother.
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) September 19, 2024
Nylander has carved out a stable profession for himself on the AHL stage, taking part in 330 video games, scoring 94 targets, and including 116 assists for 210 factors which comes out to a 0.64 points-per-game common. He has performed a complete of 121 video games on the NHL stage, scoring 25 targets and including 24 assists for 49 factors which comes out to a 0.40 points-per-game common.
Nylander has been bouncing round totally different NHL groups for a number of seasons and hasn’t discovered himself a full-time residence since being drafted by the Buffalo Sabres within the first spherical of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Nevertheless, he confirmed indicators of being a powerful bottom-six ahead when he was traded to the Blue Jackets in February of 2024, the place he scored 11 targets and added 4 assists for 15 factors by 23 video games. That spectacular end was after beginning the season within the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the place he scored 32 factors by 43 video games.
Nylander Has Nice Alternative with Maple Leafs Group
The Maple Leafs have some ahead depth points on the left aspect heading into the brand new marketing campaign, so Nylander becoming a member of them on an AHL deal opens up a world of potentialities for him. If he performs nicely sufficient with the Marlies and helps cause them to some success early within the season, there’s a good likelihood he’ll get known as up and signal a two-way deal to complete off the 2024-25 season. His two-way recreation is stable, his offensive recreation has been good throughout his brief stints within the NHL, and he appears to have a superb angle on and off the ice.
Taking much less cash at a decrease stage is a large dedication from Nylander contemplating the choices that have been accessible to him. Whereas it seemingly received’t be revealed which groups made him an NHL provide, the Maple Leafs will gladly take him on as a possible undertaking. At 26 years previous, Nylander nonetheless has a while left to change into a full-time NHL participant as a substitute of leaping between the NHL and AHL. Hopefully, he can discover himself a full-time residence and proceed elevating his recreation so he can lastly show he was price all of the hype again when he was drafted.
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