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A few weeks ago in speculating who the Toronto Maple Leafs might bring in on a professional tryout or perhaps a one-year deal, the name of Alex Nylander was mentioned. Not only because he is William’s younger brother, but because he would be a low-risk roll of the dice and after playing well at the end of the season in Columbus.
On Sunday, the Leafs signed the 26-year-old winger to an AHL contract.
The younger Nylander (like his brother) was selected eighth overall at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, the same draft as Auston Matthews, but unlike his older sibling, he has never been able to consistently perform at an NHL level for all of his seven-year NHL career. Other than the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season in which he scored a career-high 26 points, Nylander mostly has split time between the AHL and NHL.
After scoring 112 points (56 goals, 56 assists) in 142 games over three seasons with the Penguins AHL affiliate in Wlikes-Barre/Scranton, Nylander was traded to the Blue Jackets in February for Emil Bemstrom and scored a career-high 11 goals in 23 games.
This deal could be a tryout in a sense, as the younger Nylander might be able to earn an NHL deal if he plays well at training camp, but with an AHL contract, his salary does not count on the 50 pro contract limit.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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