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Nylander ELC; Latvian Locomotive Leaving? |
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Ask Tim Murray to describe Alex Nylander and he will tell you:
"High end skill and high end talent".
It's only a matter of time until "Snipeshow" ends up playing for the Buffalo Sabres.
Tim Murray also said that Nylander just might end up being a winger for Eichel and Reinhart this season.
Fresh off his matinee idol performances in the shootout at Sabres Prospects Camp, the Sabres have announced the signing of Nylander to his three-year, entry-level contract.
“We are extremely pleased to sign Alex to his entry-level deal,” said Sabres General Manager Tim Murray. “When we selected Alex, we obviously knew he was a talented, skilled player. We look forward to him coming to training camp and competing for a job.”
Nylander's $925,000 annual salary is going to be augmented by $850,000 in annual Schedule A bonuses. Nylander's AAV will be $1.775M AAV.
Nylnder is a player with many options. He can make the Sabres. He can play in Rochester, return to Sweden or play again in Mississauga of the OHL.
Nylander (6’1”, 178 lbs., 3/2/1998) was the Sabres’ first-round selection (No. 8 overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft. He led all Mississauga Steelhead (OHL) skaters in goals (28), assists (47) and points (75) in 2015-16 and added a team-high 12 points (6+6) in six playoff games. The 75-point output, which also led all OHL rookies, earned Nylander both OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year honors.
The Stockholm, Sweden native represented Sweden in two different tournaments last season and posted more than a point per game in both. He led Sweden’s 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship team with nine points (4+5) in seven games and earned a silver medal while leading Sweden with 11 points (3G, 8A) in seven games during the 2016 IIHF Under-18 World Championship.
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Rarely do pro athletes live up to their Twitter handles.
Alex Nylander certainly does!
NHL goaltenders are going to hate Nylander's guts! He's in the business of embarrassing puck stoppers. He happens to be very good at it, too.
Buffalo Sabres 2016 first round draft choice (8th overall) has been showing the home fans that he can easily carry his @SnipeShow98 Twitter handle!
Look at the filth that Nylander just sprayed all over Team Blue goalie Antoine Samuel at the Sabres Blue & Gold Scrimmage at Sabres prospects development camp.
Here's the reverse angle. Now, pick up your jaw off the floor!
Here's Nylander scoring another beauty in the post game shootout!
Samuel will need to bathe in Purrell to clean the filth off his gear after this game.
WOW!
Nylander gets his sick skill from his father, Michael, who was dubbed "The Swedish Gretzky" back in the day.
Sabres fans have gotten glimpses this week of why Nylander was ranked the third best North American skater in the 2016 NHL Draft by Central Scouting.
Nylander free styled this grotesque shootout goal at Friday's development camp practice. other level talent that kid possesses!
Just. WOW!
Nylander has silky smooth hands and lightning fast feet. His edge work and balance is impeccable. His head is always up. His feet are always churning. He changes directions flawlessly at top speed. Everything the kid does on the ice is a 150 mph. His game is powered by Red Bull. It's early to make this comparison but I will. I see a lot of Patrick Kane and Johnny Gaudreau in Alex Nylander's game. At 6'1" and 180 lbs. Nylander is bigger than Kane and Gaudreau. I want to see more of this kid's amazing skill.
I'd love to see Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma keep Nylander around after training camp ends just to use him out of the bullpen as a shootout closer.
He may be the most explosive, skilled, imaginative and creative player the Sabres have seen since Max Afinogenov.
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The 5:00pm EDT deadline for all restricted free agents to accept their qualifying offers has come and gone. The Buffalo Sabres have two remaining RFA remaining to sign after inking Marcus Foligno to a one year deal for $2.25 million on Thursday.
Ristolainen is nearing the completion of a deal that is believes to be in the 6 year, $36M to $40M range. Tim Murray and Risto's agent, Mike Liut, continue to negotiate term and dollars.
Zemgus Girgensons is in a tricky spot with Buffalo right now. The Latvian Locomotive had himself a dreadful season in 2015-16 and now it appears that he has not accepted his qualifying offer from the Sabres.
One wonders if the 2015 NHL All Star is on his way out of Buffalo. Dan Bylsma's forward group is bursting at the seams.
Girgensons, 22, the 14th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, is an odd man out right now. In 202 career games, the burley forward has popped 30 goals and 40 assists.
The added value to his game is the 413 hits and 146 blocked shots that he has accumulated the past three seasons. He has 60 takeaways in tree seasons.
Girgensons is a puck possession man who is hard on his edges and has soft hands. He abuses opponents with his physicality along the walls.
For some unknown reason, Girgensons scored only 7 goals-- 6 at even strength-- and added just 11 assists in 71 games.
Maybe it was the dramatic reduction in his ice time from one season to the next. Under Ted Nolan, Girgensons skated 19:05 TOI. Zemgus and Nolan were sympatico with one another having been together with Team Latvia before arriving in Buffalo at different times. One Nolan was fired and the tanking switch was flipped to the "off" position, Bylsma played Girgensons only 15:02 TOI per game.
Tim Murray signed power winger Kyle Okposo to a seven year, $42 million contract on the first day of unrestricted free agency on July 1.
Murray is also left wing locking former Harvard standout Jimmy Vesey, a power winger who is has Buffalo on his short, short list of teams that he is sitting on until August 15 when he becomes UFA. Buffalo and Boston are on Vesey's list.
Where will Girgensons fit in Dan Bylsma's top nine forward group this season?
Right now, Ryan O'Reilly, Jack Eichel, Kyle Okposo, Samson Reinhart, Evander Kane, Tyler Ennis, and Matt Moulson are the top seven forwards.
Girgensons would slot on line three with and perhaps Nic Deslauriers while one of Ennis or Moulson would slide down to L3. Bylsma raved about the play of Marcus Foligno, Johan Larsson and Brian Gionta last season and the trio will likely comprise the fourth line this season.
What happens if Murray wins the Vesey grappling match with Boston?
What happens if/when rookie Justin Bailey earns a roster spot in training camp?
What happens if/when eighth overall pick Alex Nylander makes a splash by winning a roster spot with the Sabres out of training camp and after a nine game NHL tryout?
What then for Zemgus Girgensons?
Trade bait to land Cam Fowler?
Anaheim have a stockpile of 8 NHL D-men. They are in desperate need of a top six left winger.
Girgensons may be on his way out of Buffalo.
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Dan Bylsma has added a USA hockey coaching legend to his Buffalo Sabres coaching staff.
Tom Ward will replace Dan Lambert on the Buffalo bench next season. Lambert was recently named head cosch of Buffalo's AHL affilate Rochester Americans.
Ward coached newly minted Sabres power forward Kyle Okposo and several NHL stars at at Shattuck-St. Mary's.
Shattuck-St. Mary's has issued the following statement announcing the Ward departure from their hallowed halls:
Tom Ward, the long-time Director of Hockey and Boys Prep Head Coach at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School (SSM) in Faribault, Minnesota will be joining the NHL Buffalo Sabres organization next season in a coaching position.
Ward started coaching at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in 1999 and assumed the director role in 2006. Ward steadily built the SSM hockey powerhouse following the foundational work provided by Craig Norwich and the late J.P. Parisé. During Ward’s tenure at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, the boys’ and girls’ hockey programs have won 22 national championships and he has personally coached the Boys Prep team to eight national titles. In April 2016, a new milestone for the program was established when a record four teams - Boys U14, Boys U16, Girls U16 and Girls U19 - were crowned national champions.
Numerous future NHL players and Olympians were students at Shattuck-St. Mary’s and members of the hockey program during Ward’s tenure. He also has served as a mentor for numerous coaches who have served under his leadership. “Tom has left an indelible mark on both the School and the hockey program,” stated Shattuck-St. Mary’s President Nick Stoneman. “As important as hockey is to Tom, teaching his players how to be responsible, respectful, and reliable young adults is at the core of his coaching. He will be missed by many people within the Shattuck-St. Mary’s community, but we are equally excited for his new opportunity with the Buffalo Sabres, knowing he will bring his same SSM Sabres’ passion to that organization.”
Last summer, the Philadelphia Flyers hired long time Shattuck-St. Mary's head coach Dave Hakstol to run their bench.
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Here is a list of notable Shattuck-St. Mary's aluminum who have been drafted by NHL teams during Ward's tenure:
Ratchuk ’96 Colorado Avalanche (25th selection of the 1996 entry draft)
Noah Clarke ’97 LA Kings (250th selection of the 1999 entry draft)
Ryan Malone ’99 Pittsburg Penguins (115th selection of the 1999 entry draft)
Tim Branham Vancouver Canucks (93rd selection of the 2000 entry draft)
Ryan Caldwell ’99 New York Islanders (202nd selection of the 2000 entry draft)
Cliff Loya ’99 Chicago Blackhawks (207th selection of the 2000 entry draft)
Brent MacLellan Chicago Blackhawks (104th selection of the 2001 entry draft)
Ben Eaves ’00 Pittsburg Penguins (131st selection of the 2001 entry draft)
Patrick Eaves ’02 Ottawa Senators (29th selection of the 2003 entry draft) (Dallas)
Brady Murray ’02 LA Kings (152nd selection of the 2003 entry draft)
Chris Porter ’02 Chicago Blackhawks (282nd selection of the 2003 entry draft) (Minnesota)
Zach Parise ’02 New Jersey Devils (17th selection of the 2003 entry draft) (Minnesota)
Brian Salcido ’03 Anaheim Ducks (141st selection of the 2005 entry draft)
Casey Borer ’03 Carolina Hurricanes (69th selection of the 2004 entry draft)
Matt Smaby ’03 Tampa Bay Lightening (41st selection of the 2003 entry draft)
Drew Stafford ’03 Buffalo Sabres (13th selection of the 2004 entry draft) (Winnipeg)
Matt Ford ’03 Chicago Blackhawks (256th selection of the 2004 entry draft)
A.J. Thelen ’03 Minnesota Wild (12th selection of the 2004 entry draft)
Spencer Dillion ’03 Florida Panthers (267th selection of the 2004 entry draft)
Jonathan Toews ’05 Chicago Blackhawks (3rd selection of the 2006 entry draft)
Taylor Chorney ’05 Edmonton Oilers (36th selection of the 2005 entry draft) (Washington)
Michael Gergen ’05 Pittsburg Penguins (61st selection of the 2005 entry draft)
Sidney Crosby Pittsburg Penguins (1st selection overall of the 2005 entry draft)
Jack Johnson Carolina Hurricanes (3rd selection of 2005 entry draft) (Columbus)
Kyle Okposo New York Islanders (7th selection of 2006 entry draft) (Buffalo)
Tyler Ruegsegger ’06 Toronto Maple Leafs (166th selection of the 2006 entry draft)
Nigel Williams Colorado Avalanche (51th selection of the 2006 entry draft)
Jamie McBain Carolina Hurricanes (63rd selection of the 2006 entry draft) (Los Angeles)
Ben Blood ’07 Ottawa Senators (120th selection of the 2007 entry draft)
Brett Bruneteau Washington Capitals (108th selection of the 2007 entry draft)
Angelo Esposito Pittsburg Penguins (20th selection of the 2007 entry draft)
David Carle ’08 Tampa Bay Lightening (203rd selection of the 2008 entry draft)
Derek Stepan ’08 New York Rangers (51st selection of the 2008 entry draft)
David Toews ’08 New York Islanders (66th selection of the 2008 entry draft)
Garrett Roe LA Kings (183rd selection of the 2008 entry draft)
Morgan Clark Vancouver Canucks (191st selection of the 2008 entry draft)
Alexander Fallstrom ’09 Minnesota Wild (116th selection of the 2009 entry draft)
Brandon Kozun LA Kings (179th selection of the 2009 entry draft)
Kirill Gotovets ’09 Tampa Bay Lightening (184th selection of the 2009 entry draft)
Erik Haula Minnesota Wild (182nd selection of the 2009 entry draft)
Emerson Etem Anaheim Ducks (29th selection of the 2010 entry draft) (Anaheim)
Joe Basaraba ’10 Florida Panthers (69th selection of the 2010 entry draft)
Jason Clark ’10 New York Islanders (82nd selection of the 2010 entry draft)
Jimmy Mullin ’10 Tampa Bay Lightening (118th selection of the 2010 entry draft)
Keegan Lowe Carolina Hurricanes (73rd selection of the 2011 entry draft)
Mike Reilly Columbus Blue Jackets (98th selection of the 2011 entry draft) (Chicago)
Oscar Dansk Columbus Blue Jackets (31st selection of the 2012 entry draft)
Teddy Blueger ’12 Pittsburgh Penguins (52nd selection of the 2012 entry draft)
John Draeger ’12 Minnesota Wild (68th selection of the 2012 entry draft)
Zack Stepan ’12 Nashville Predators (112th selection of the 2012 entry draft)
Hunter Fejes ’12 Phoenix Coyotes (178th selection of the 2012 entry draft)
Nathan MacKinnon Colorado Avalanche (1st selection overall of the 2013 entry draft)
Ian McCoshan Florida Panthers (31st selection of the 2013 entry draft)
Connor Hurley Buffalo Sabres (38th selection of the 2013 entry draft)
Taylor Cammarata New York Islanders (76th selection of the 2013 entry draft)
Anthony Brodeur ’13 New Jersey Devils (208th selection of the 2013 entry draft)
Tyler Vesel ’13 Edmonton Oilers (153rd selection of the 2014 entry draft)
Jordan Greenway Minnesota Wild (50th selection of the 2015 entry draft)
Chris Martenet Dallas Stars (103rd selection of the 2015 entry draft)
Connor Garland Phoenix Coyotes (123rd selection of the 2015 entry draft)
Roy Radke Chicago Blackhawks (164th selection of 2015 entry draft)
Clayton Keller Arizona Coyotes (7th selection of 2016 entry draft)
Ryan Lindgren Boston Bruins (49th selection of 2016 entry draft)
James Greenway Toronto Maple Leafs (72nd selection of 2016 entry draft)
Rem Pitlick Nashville Predators (76th selection of 2016 entry draft)
Nathan Noel Chicago Blackhawks (113th selection of 2016 entry draft)
Graham McPhee Edmonton Oilers (149th selection of 2016 entry draft)
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Jamie Benn has undergone summer surgery.
Was Benn injured during the Stanley Cup playoffs or was it a chronic issue that he suffered during the 2015-16 regular season?
The Dallas Stars have announced Benn, 26, has been forced to go to the surgical suite to repair a “core muscle injury.”
The surgery, which took place Thursday in Philadelphia, comes with a six-week recovery period.
The glass is half full for the Stars in that Benn is expected to make a full recovery before training camp opens.
The glass is half empty for Team Canada.
Benn may not be able to participate for his native Canada at the highly anticipated World Cup of Hockey tournament which will go down in Toronto in September.
“Jamie will be re-evaluated after the six-week rehabilitation process,” the Stars said in a release. “At which time, his availability for the World Cup of Hockey will be determined", Stars GM Jim Nill said in a statement.
In 2015-16, Benn finished second in the NHL scoring race with 89. He earned a nomination for the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
To add more intrigue to the injury, Benn is entering the final year of his Dallas contract. He currently earns $5.75 AAV.
In the event that the Dallas Stars captain is forced to miss the World Cup, Team Canada would be wise to call upon Buffalo Sabres future captain Ryan O'Reilly, Anaheim Ducks sniper Corey Perry or New Jersey Devil Taylor Hall to fill in for Benn.
O'Reilly has played a leadership role for Team Canada's back to back gold medal winning teams at the IIHF World Championships.
O'Reilly, 25, has proven himself to be one of the best 200 by 85 players in today's NHL.
Perry and Hall won gold for Canada at the 2016 IIHF Worlds.
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