On Friday, Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray announced that the team signed Alex Nylander to a three-year entry-level contract.
DONE DEAL: We’ve signed Alex Nylander (@snipeshow98) to a 3-year, entry-level contract. https://t.co/8pZuu9TaWV pic.twitter.com/ZMkjlGL4Bk
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 15, 2016
Nylander, 18, was chosen by the Sabres 8th overall at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. During the 2015-16 regular-season, Nylander played for the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League after being selected 12th overall in the 2015 CHL Import Draft. With the Steelheads, Nylander appeared in 57 games, compiling 28 goals and 75 points. Nylander led all rookies in scoring and earned the Emms Family Award (OHL rookie of the year) and the Canadian Hockey League rookie of the year.
At the World Junior Championships this past year, Nylander led Team Sweden to a Silver Medal, while tallying four goals and nine points in seven games. Nylander would later represent Team Sweden in the Under 18-World Championships, leading the team with 11 points in just seven games. On April 12, the NHL’s Central Scouting Service ranked Nylander third overall in its final rankings of North American skaters, behind forwards Pierre-Luc Dubois and Matthew Tkachuk.
The 6’1″, 179-pound left winger is the son of former NHL player, Michael Nylander, and brother of current Maple Leafs prospect, William Nylander.