Alex Nylander played the hero and sent the Marlies to the Calder Cup Finals, and it might be time for the Maple Leafs to give him a look in the bottom-six next year.
Nylander scored the game-winner to send Toronto to the Calder Cup Finals and though he hasn't blown everyone away he's got five goals including two game-winners and he's a key part of the lineup that includes a great mix of veteran talent and young prospects.
Though he hasn't really gotten a chance with the Maple Leafs so far since signing with the club in 2024, as he only played five games that season and didn't record a point. He didn't join the team in 2025-26, but put up a very good year with the Marlies - adding 24 goals and 53 points in 65 games.
Alex Nylander's career has actually put up respectable numbers despite never really being given a full-time opportunity.
But the 28-year old deserves a second look at least when it comes to the bottom-six, because frankly no one has taken a real chance on him and it's about time they should.
Nylander has only really played one full season in the NHL which was way back in 2019-2020 with the Chicago Blackhawks. In 65 games he put up 26 points, a minus-2, only 10 PIM and 25 takeaways to 23 giveaways; so he was solid at both ends of the ice.
He has 7 years of NHL experience yet only 126 games with over half being in Chicago; so it's just been tough for him to keep a spot.
Though he's never played that much since, when he has been called up he's been stellar. With the Blue Jackets he ended up scoring a hat-trick and putting up eight goals through his first 13 games with the team - a Columbus record by the way.
He's seen as the outlier of the Nylander family given that his father Michael carved out a really nice career in the NHL and his brother William is a bonafide superstar who gets all the attention.
It's time for Toronto to truly give the Nylander brothers a chance to play together...at least on the same team
But Toronto can't ignore him anymore.
With a roster turnover ahead, the Maple Leafs are looking for a new fourth line especially if Calle Jarnkrok and Steven Lorentz head out in that turnover.
Nylander would fit as a perfect two-way bottom-six winger who has the potential to score double digit goals but doesn't hinder you on the defensive side of things. He can also be used as a stop-gap PK forward on the second unit if needed, and there's genuine potential if you let him actually let loose.
It would be an even smarter idea for the Maple Leafs to build a proto-AHL line when it comes to their fourth line. Having Nylander alongside Bo Groulx and Luke Haymes would give Toronto three young to fairly young talents who all have two-way potential and chemistry from playing together with the Marlies.
Heck, have fun with it in the preseason and see if there's chemistry between the brothers. While it's not going to give Alex a top-six role, it's a good way to see what he can offer in that role and if injuries are commonplace then at least you know you have a replacement.
He also won't cost too much given that he could sign a league minimum for $775,000 per year, an upgrade on his AHL deal and a salary that is peanuts to Toronto.
Is it a guarantee that Nylander will thrive with the Maple Leafs as he has with the Marlies? No, but we also never had the foresight to think the Marlies would make it this far in general.
A lot of that has to do with Nylander, who showed that perhaps he should be getting a little more notice than he has - especially considering he's the won fighting for a championship.
Do you think Alex Nylander deserves a look in the Maple Leafs' bottom-six?
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