William Nylander’s Post from the Maple Leafs Fuels Roster Speculation
After the early July spree concluded with most top-level free agents signed to new contracts, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have to dig deep to complete their roster.
One potential addition to the Leafs’ bottom six is a familiar face (at least for one of the organization’s players): former Columbus Blue Jackets forward Alexander Nylander, the brother of William Nylander.
William and Alexander have been training together during the 2024 offseason in preparation for the upcoming season. The Maple Leafs forward posted a story on Instagram (h/t @Leafslatest for sharing the pictures on X) showing them working out together.
The Hockey News’ Nick Barden reported the same Instagram story, sharing another picture uploaded by William, in which Alex is shown doing squats in the gym, presumably on the same day.
William Nylander and his brother, Alex, a UFA, have been seen preparing for the 2024-25 season.
Do you think the #Leafs should sign Alex Nylander to a cheap deal after he scored 11 goals in 23 games with Columbus last year?
“Lil bro is a BEAST,” William Nylander wrote, tagging his brother in the Instagram story.
Alex Nylander, the younger brother, completed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023. He was traded to the Blue Jackets on February 23 and finished the season with them.
Alexander, who turned 26 in March, scored 11 goals and added 4 assists in 23 games with the Blue Jackets in 2024, after not scoring any points in Pittsburgh.
With Alex now out of contract, some fans interpreted William’s post as a hint for Toronto to consider signing the free agent or giving him a tryout ahead of the 2024-25 season, leading to speculation about a potential signing.
Analyst Calls Alex Nylander a ‘Hidden Gem’
Hockey analyst Josh Wegman of The Score, in a July 5 post, noted that “there are still a handful of potential hidden gems available” in the free-agent market, including Alexander Nylander.
Wegman also reviewed the most intriguing remaining UFAs, suggesting the best fit for each. While the big names are gone, there are still some potential hidden gems who could exceed their contract value.
“It was mildly surprising that the Columbus Blue Jackets chose not to tender an $814,000 qualifying offer to retain Nylander’s services given his strong finish to the 2023–24 campaign,” Wegman wrote. “Nylander will likely only garner a one-year deal for under $1 million. That’s great news for the Maple Leafs, who are nearly capped out but could use more competition for a middle-six winger spot. The potential to play with his brother, William, is intriguing for all parties involved.”
When Wegman published his column, the Maple Leafs’ cap space was nearly nonexistent at $180,333. Since then, it has grown to $1.2 million according to PuckPedia.
Unless Alex Nylander demands an unreasonable amount, the Maple Leafs should have enough room to sign him if they wish.
As mentioned earlier, Nylander could see a slight increase from his recent salary of $775,000 and still fit within Toronto’s cap.
The Buffalo Sabres drafted Nylander with the No. 8 pick in the 2016 NHL draft, but he never reached his potential in Buffalo and has yet to find a permanent spot.
Nylander has played for the Sabres, Blackhawks, Penguins, and Blue Jackets throughout his career. He might establish himself as a solid depth forward in Toronto, playing alongside his brother.
William Nylander’s Active Offseason European Tour
The Maple Leafs might not have won the Stanley Cup, but that hasn’t stopped Nylander from enjoying a nice offseason.
On Sunday, July 21, Nylander posted a series of photos and videos on his Instagram account. The 28-year-old traveled to London, England, and attended Wimbledon.
Nylander’s post included photos of him and a friend at Wimbledon’s center court, exploring London’s streets, riding the Tube, standing outside a bar during the Euro final between Spain and England, and enjoying some fish and chips.
Nylander had a standout year with the Maple Leafs, scoring 98 points with 40 goals and 58 assists in all 82 regular-season games. In the first round of the playoffs, Nylander added 3 goals in four games, missing the other three due to migraine symptoms.
On January 8, Nylander signed an eight-year, $92 million contract with Toronto, with an annual average value of $11.5 million. This deal makes him the second-highest-paid player on the team, only behind Auston Matthews.
