Alexander Nylander

Lore & Background

Nylander played major junior hockey with the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL, where he led all rookies in scoring and won both the Emms Family Award as OHL Rookie of the Year and CHL Rookie of the Year. He was ranked the No. 3 North American skater leading up to the 2016 NHL draft. After being drafted by Buffalo, he signed a three-year entry-level contract and made his NHL debut on 3 April 2017 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He recorded his first NHL goal on 6 April 2018 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Professional

Nylander was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in July 2019 for Henri Jokiharju and wore sweater No. 92, the same number his father wore. He appeared in 65 games during the 2019–20 season, recording 10 goals and 16 assists, but injured his left knee in the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs and missed the entire 2020–21 season recovering from surgery.

He re-signed with Chicago for the 2021–22 season but began on injured reserve. In January 2022 he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Sam Lafferty, splitting time between Pittsburgh and their AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He signed a one-year extension with Pittsburgh in April 2023.

During the 2023–24 season, Nylander was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets along with a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick for Emil Bemström. He recorded his first NHL hat trick on 4 March 2024 against the Vegas Golden Knights and finished the season with a career-best 11 goals in 23 games with Columbus. Unable to secure an NHL contract as a free agent, he signed an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies in July 2024.

He later signed a one-year NHL minimum contract with the Maple Leafs in November 2024 but spent most of the season with the Marlies. After being released to unrestricted free agency, he signed another AHL contract with the Marlies in August 2025. He joined the Calgary Flames on a Professional Tryout Agreement.

Reader's Guide

Alexander Nylander's career illustrates the trajectory of a high draft pick who has struggled to establish a permanent NHL role despite flashes of offensive talent. Drafted eighth overall by Buffalo in 2016, he was expected to become a dynamic offensive contributor but has instead moved between multiple organizations, often splitting time between the NHL and AHL. His most productive NHL stretch came late in the 2023–24 season with Columbus, where he scored 11 goals in 23 games, including a hat trick. However, he was unable to secure a full NHL contract the following summer, signing instead with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.

His career has been marked by significant injuries, including a knee injury that cost him the entire 2020–21 season. Nylander has represented Sweden internationally, winning a silver medal at the 2018 World Junior Championships and leading the Swedish junior team in scoring at the 2016 tournament. He is the younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs star William Nylander, and like his brother, was born in Canada while his father Michael played in the NHL. As of 2025, he is attempting to return to the NHL with the Calgary Flames on a tryout agreement.