‘He Can Certainly Do Some Things Not Everyone Can’: What the Maple

Following speculation that the Toronto Maple Leafs might sign Alex Nylander, younger brother of star forward William Nylander, the club confirmed the transaction Sunday when the Toronto Marlies announced they had signed the Swede to a one-year AHL contract.

Related: Why the Maple Leafs Signed William Nylander’s Brother Alex to a Contract With the Marlies

The 26-year-old split his 2023-24 season between the NHL and the AHL. Starting with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the forward was later traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in February. After appearing in five regular-season games with the Penguins without recording a point, he was assigned to the AHL, producing 32 points (17G, 15A) in 43 games.

However, his season was most notable for his tenure in Ohio with the Blue Jackets. In 23 games, he scored 11 goals and added four assists for a 15-point total, including a hat-trick in his fifth game in a 6-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights – the first of his career and the fastest in club history.

Despite being on a trajectory to produce at a 50-point pace in a full 82-game season, the Blue Jackets elected not to extend a qualifying offer to Nylander, making him an unrestricted free agent.

This decision was the latest setback for the former eighth-overall pick.

Nevertheless, Nylander stayed motivated, often seen working out with his brother ‘Willy Styles’ to remain in peak condition in case a deal materialized.

Related: Would Signing William Nylander’s Brother, Alex, as a Depth Scorer Make Sense for the Maple Leafs?

Since making his NHL debut in the 2016-17 season with the Buffalo Sabres, Nylander has bounced between the NHL and the AHL. In 121 total NHL games, he’s scored 49 points (25G, 24A) across four organizations (Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets). In the AHL, he’s played in a combined 339 regular season and postseason…