The Maple Leafs made long-term commitments to Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Is it enough to remake the look and feel of Toronto's defense? 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. 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. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTpdoWG_Gm4[/embed] 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. 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 games, totaling 216 points (97G, 119A). His most significant opportunity came in the 2019-20 season, where he played in a top-six role alongside Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews at times for the Blackhawks – amassing 26 points (10G, 16A) in 65 games. That season, in the ‘Bubble,’ was his only taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his career thus far. Despite this, he hasn’t played with superstar talent at peak performance like he would in Toronto – if given the opportunity. And that presents a unique upside in itself. From the Marlies’ perspective, bearing in mind the club just lost Kieffer Bellows – who finished second in scoring and fifth in points in the 2023-24 campaign – Nylander is a strong addition when considering he has played nearly three times as many games at the AHL level and found success while doing so. Bellows, who was formerly regarded as a top-ranked prospect, has seen plenty of ups and downs throughout his professional career, similar to Nylander. He would have an exceptional year in his lone season with the Marlies, scoring career-highs in goals (27), assists (22), and points (49) over 52 games before signing a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000 with the Nashville Predators in early July. Nylander’s potential success could mirror that of Bellows, filling the offensive void left by his departure and becoming a valuable asset for the AHL club. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LEAFS? Despite signing a deal with the Marlies, the AHL deal will likely earn him an invite to Leafs training camp in the fall. With a shortage of depth up front, his deal could eventually be converted into an NHL contract. Importantly, this arrangement does not count against the Leafs’ 50 contract limit, maintaining roster flexibility amidst uncertainties with players like Nick Robertson and Jani Hakanpaa. Without an NHL deal currently in place, there is no burden on the team’s salary cap – which is already tight. Additionally, Nylander can be called up to the NHL without needing to clear waivers. The door remains open to a pathway back to the NHL level and he would only have to clear waivers if the Leafs sign him to a deal midseason, call him up, and assign him back to the AHL. This arrangement allows the club to evaluate him without financial restraints, and they could consider an NHL deal if he performs well. As noted by the Toronto Sun’s Lance Hornby [https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/alex-nylander-joins-brother-william-in-toronto-with-the-marlies], J.D. Forrest, who coached Pittsburgh’s farm team at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, described Alex as having “loads of talent, offensively gifted (but) just kind of needs to round out his game. He can certainly do some things not everyone can.” If Nylander continues to develop and flourish at the AHL level, he could prove to be a valuable addition down the line. Despite questions about his consistency, the potential chemistry between the Nylander brothers on the same team is an intriguing possibility. This scenario represents a favorable risk-to-reward ratio, potentially resulting in a sturdy investment. While it’s not fair to compare the Nylanders to the Tkachuk, Strome, Hughes, or Staal brothers just yet, time will tell if this combination could make for another strong sibling duo in the NHL. 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