Marlies add Alex Nylander on AHL contract

The Nylander brothers are set to reunite in Toronto - just not with the same team.

The Toronto Marlies - the Maple Leafs' farm team - signed free-agent forward Alex Nylander to a one-year AHL contract, the team announced Sunday.

Alex, the younger brother of Leafs star William Nylander, recorded 11 goals and four assists in 28 games last season split between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets. All 15 of his points came in his 23 contests with the Jackets, where he scored at a 39-goal pace over 82 games.

The Buffalo Sabres selected Nylander eighth overall in 2016, but his career hasn't turned out quite as hoped. He became an NHL regular for the first time in 2019-20, playing in a career-high 65 games with the Chicago Blackhawks, but tore his meniscus in the playoffs that year and missed the entire 2020-21 campaign.

The 26-year-old winger has recorded 210 points in 330 career AHL games. He's registered 49 points in 121 career NHL appearances.

Nylander will provide some veteran experience with the Marlies. If he performs well, the Leafs may sign him to an NHL contract so they can recall him and potentially have him play alongside his brother.