The Toronto Maple Leafs seemingly gave the brother of Auston Matthews‘ key teammate one last chance last season. After a rough production, it seems the organization has decided to step in a different direction ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season.
William Nylander is one of the best players on the ice night in and night out for the Maple Leafs. Consistent, clutch, and an impossible-to-miss presence, the Swede forward is a menace. However, his brother Alexander Nylander hasn’t had much success finding his footing in the NHL.
The 27-year-old left-winger has played in five different organizations, yet he’s yet to establish himself in the league. In recent years, the younger Nylander has failed to even come close to matching his career-best 26-point season with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2019–2020.
Such inconsistency has translated to the on-ice production with Matthews and his older brother in Toronto. After signing as a free agent in 2024, Nylander signed a two-way contract with the Buds. Still, he played mostly in the AHL, with the Toronto Marlies. Alex Nylander saw the ice in five NHL outings, recording zero points and four penalty minutes. Ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, the Leafs have seemingly given up on the dream of a Nylander-brothers duo in Hogtown.
Alexander Nylander #92 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the puck prior to the game against the Florida Panthers at the Amerant Bank Arena on November 27, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida.
As the Marlies announced on their social media, the Leafs’ affiliate has signed Nylander to a one-year, AHL contract. Therefore, unless the Buds have second thoughts later in the year, Nylander will spend the entire season in the minors.
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Pick up steam
While being deployed full-time in the AHL might be a tough pill to swallow, it could also provide a good landscape for Nylander to gain momentum and return to the big leagues. Of course, the Leafs have a very strong roster surrounding Matthews, but even if it’s not in Toronto, Nylander could make an NHL roster somewhere else.
Last season, the younger brother of Nylander recorded 44 points in 64 outings with the Marlies. Alex scored 23 goals while racking up 21 assists. Him and the Marlies fell in the opening round of the Calder Cup Playoffs after losing 2-0 in the series against the Cleveland Monsters.
Guldpucken in town
After recording 84 points in the 2024-25 NHL season, William Nylander was awarded the Guldpucken (The Golden Puck) honor, given to the best Swedish hockey player of the year. Nylander took home the trophy over other stars like Elias Pettersson, Mika Zibanejad, Erik Karlsson, Gustav Forsling, and Victor Hedman, among others.
