On Waivers: Did Alex Nylander Waste Chance with Maple Leafs?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed forward Alex Nylander on waivers, following his brief stint with the team. Nylander, 26, was called up from the AHL on Nov. 22 after his AHL contract was thrown away and replaced by an NHL deal. The idea of him playing with his brother William was a nice storyline, but the results weren’t as the team or fans might have hoped.

Alex appeared in five games for the Leafs, recording zero points, a -1 rating, and averaging just 9:53 of ice time per game. Before his call-up, Nylander had impressed in the AHL with eight goals and 12 points in 14 games.

The Maple Leafs have placed Alex Nylander on waivers, per @FriedgeHNIC. pic.twitter.com/ZTEPXHN8j1

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 11, 2024

The younger brother of Leafs star William Nylander, Alex has had a tumultuous NHL career since being selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 draft. With 25 goals and 49 points in 126 career NHL games, Nylander’s production has been inconsistent across stops with Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Columbus.

He signed with the Marlies when he had other NHL offers in the hopes of getting to play in Toronto with William. One could argue he got his chance but didn’t make the most of it.

Despite his lack of points in Toronto, there could still be interest in his services from other NHL teams, especially as he’ll be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, meaning no long-term commitment would be required. It’s not as though Alex is a bust. He’s simply inconsistent and on a deep team with playoff aspirations, he’s not likely to be called upon.

With Nylander Gone, the Maple Leafs Will Now Make Other Moves

This move allows the Leafs to activate one of their IR players, likely winger Bobby McMann or defenseman Jake McCabe.

Additionally, the Leafs have placed defenseman Dakota Mermis, 30, on waivers. Mermis, who did not play for Toronto this season, recorded three goals and five assists in 47 games with Minnesota last year.

Next: Oilers Claim Alec Regula Off of Waivers from the Boston Bruins