Why the Maple Leafs Signed Alex Nylander to the Marlies

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Sunday the signing of Swedish forward Alex Nylander to an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies.

The 26-year-old split his 2023-24 season between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets organizations. After being acquired from Pittsburgh, Nylander recorded 11 goals and four assists in 23 games with the Blue Jackets. Despite his production, the Blue Jackets did not extend a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Alex, the younger brother of Maple Leafs star William Nylander, has struggled to establish himself in the NHL. Selected eighth overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, Alex has played 121 NHL games over six seasons, scoring 25 goals and adding 24 assists.

Over the summer, the Nylander brothers shared photos of their joint workouts, leading The Hockey News to speculate about the Leafs' interest in Alex.

With an AHL contract, Alex is likely to earn an invite to the Leafs' training camp this fall. If he impresses, the Leafs could convert his deal to an NHL contract. By keeping it at the AHL level initially, the Leafs preserve one of their 50 NHL contract slots while evaluating Alex's potential as a depth scorer.

The Leafs are thin on depth forwards this year, presenting an opportunity for Alex to earn an NHL spot. Notably, Nick Robertson remains unsigned and has reportedly requested a trade from Toronto.

Even if Alex doesn't secure a spot with the Leafs, he brings proven scoring to the Marlies. Last season, he tallied 17 goals and 15 assists in 43 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL.