Alexander Maximilian Michael Junior Nylander Altelius, known professionally as Alex Nylander, is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward.
Born on March 2, 1998, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he currently plays for the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League (AHL) while holding NHL experience.
Like many in his family, Nylander has deep roots in hockey, representing Sweden internationally despite his Canadian birthplace.
Siblings
Alex Nylander comes from a large hockey-centric family.
His most prominent sibling is his older brother William Nylander, a star forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL.
The two brothers have shared the ice as teammates for the Maple Leafs, marking a special family milestone when Alex made his debut with the team in 2024.
The Nylander family also includes a sister named Ella, who has publicly shared moments celebrating her brothers’ achievements, such as family photos from games.
Career
Nylander was selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, the same pick position his brother William had earned two years earlier.
In his lone Ontario Hockey League (OHL) season with the Mississauga Steelheads, he posted 28 goals and 75 points, showcasing his scoring touch as a rookie.
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He turned professional shortly after, splitting time between the NHL and AHL.
Nylander’s NHL path included stints with the Buffalo Sabres, where he debuted in the 2017-18 season, followed by time with the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Columbus Blue Jackets.
His most productive NHL season came in 2019-20 with Chicago, where he recorded 10 goals and 16 assists in 65 games.
Injuries and consistency challenges led to more time in the AHL, where he has been a reliable scorer, including strong performances with the Rochester Americans and later the Toronto Marlies.
In 2024, he signed with the Maple Leafs organization, drawn by the opportunity to play alongside his brother William and experience the Canadian style of hockey.
As of recent seasons, he has accumulated over 120 NHL games with 25 goals and 24 assists, while continuing to develop his game in the minors with the Marlies, posting productive point totals in the AHL.
Accolades
In the OHL, Nylander captured the Emms Family Award as Rookie of the Year in 2015-16 and was named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team as well as the Third All-Star Team that same season.
He also received CHL Rookie of the Year honors for his standout debut in major junior hockey.
Internationally, representing Sweden, Nylander has excelled in junior tournaments.
He led Sweden in points at the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championships and earned a silver medal at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship.
He was named to the WJC Media All-Star Team in 2017 and recognized as one of the top three players on Team Sweden at the World Juniors in both 2017 and 2018.
Additional early accolades include a TV-Pucken Gold Medal in 2013 and a silver medal at the Hlinka Memorial Tournament in 2016.
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