Alexander Nylander’s offensive skill set and hockey lineage could appeal to the Canadiens if he were to fall to the 9th selection.
To say Alexander Nylander comes from a hockey family would be quite the understatement. Not only did his father, Michael Nylander, play 15 seasons in the NHL, his brother, William Nylander, is a top prospect for the Toronto Maple Leafs. On top of that, Alexander’s uncles, Peter and Thommy, also played pro hockey in Europe, with Peter playing 19 seasons in Sweden and Russia.
As far as draft rankings go, Alexander Nylander ranks anywhere from the top 5 to the top 10. A lot of Nylander’s strengths stem from his superior offensive skills, which he put on display for the Mississauga SteelHeads of the OHL this season.
Rankings/Mock Drafts
Sportsnet – 9th
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Draft Site – 7th
TSN – 6th
ISS – 4th
McKeen’s – 8th
TSN Mock Draft – 7th
Hockey Prospect – 6th
Future Considerations – 7th
With the Canadiens prospect pool looking fairly thin, the team could use a top talent such as Nylander. His strongest assets are his passing ability and offensive awareness. Bill Placzek of Draft Site had this to say about Nylander:
"I went into this season thinking of him as I do many hockey siblings – same bloodline but far less talent. My opinion was based on his awkward skating stride and lack of speed. He had high-end offensive instincts, exceptionally soft hands and puck handling skills, but just didn’t display the wheels to complete the portrait. He must have committed to improving his feet and has clearly shown he can generate the attack and make teammates better."
In addition, Placzek also noted:
"His new found quick feet and balance add to his agility and stop/start ability. He always was good East-West who was ultra shifty with the puck. He is now quicker, more dynamic and possible the most skilled player in the draft."
Suiting up for the SteelHeads, Nylander played 57 games and posted 75 points(28 G, 47 A). Some scouts noted that Nylander seemed to wear out down the stretch though he still carried the SteelHeads in the playoffs with 12 points(6 G, 6 A) in 6 games.
Nylander also suited up for Team Sweden twice this season, first playing 7 games at the World Under-18 Championships where he scored 3 goals and 11 points.
Though, it was at the World Juniors where Nylander truly stepped out of his family’s shadow. In the wake of his brother’s tournament ending concussion, Alexander carried Sweden by scoring 4 goals and 9 points in 7 games. Unfortunately for Sweden, they ended up losing to the Americans in the Bronze medal game.
Next: Canadiens: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of the 9th Pick
Odds of Canadiens Drafting Him – Low
With the Canadiens selecting 9th, it seems fairly far fetched to think Alexander Nylander will fall to them. Nylander has stepped it up all season and has firmly established himself as a near guaranteed Top 5-7 pick.
If the Canadiens want to guarantee the selection of Nylander, they will almost have to trade up from 9th to get him.
If he happens to slip and the Canadiens are able to draft him, Nylander would give a huge boost to the Canadiens system. He would instantly become the team’s top prospect and could conceivably make the roster out of training camp.