"Where is Alex Nylander?", asked I to myself while watching Team Sweden defeat Team Finland at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Summer Showcase from Plymouth , Michigan on Saturday afternoon.
The Buffalo Sabres made Nylander, 19, the eighth overall pick at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, is conspicuous by his absence at this summer showcase. If he were playing, Nylander would easily be Sweden's best player. Rasmus Dahlin, the projected number one pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, is playing in the summer showcase but hasn't distinguished himself yet. Dahlin has looked good, not great.
At the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championships in Montreal, Nylander was Sweden's leading scorer with points five goals and seven assists for twelve points.
Murray wanted to be assured that Nylander was going to be a focal point and a go-to guy for Team Sweden.
“When they asked me for permission, I asked what his role would be,” Murray said. “I think I knew the answer, but you still want to hear it from their lips, obviously.”
Nylander led Sweden in scoring with nine points as a 17-year-old at the 2014-15 IIHF World Juniors. His 12 points at last year's event added value to his already impressive hockey resume. He was arguably Sweden's best offensive player in a class that also included forwards Joel Eriksson-ek (Minnesota) and Rasmus Asplund (Buffalo),
Nylander was one of five AHL players on loan for the 2017 WJC tourney. Sweden’s Oliver Kylington (Calgary Flames), Team USA’s Jack Roslovic (Winnipeg Jets), Russia’s Denis Guryanov (Dallas Stars), and Daniel Vladar (Boston Bruins) of the Czech Republic were the others.
Last December, former Sabres GM Murray gave permission to Team Sweden management for Nylander to play at the WJC's. It came on one condition: that Nylander be played in a feature role, not a supporting role. Murray expected Nylander to exceed the body of work that the young Swede created at the 2015 WJC tourney.
“The world juniors is a short tournament and sometimes the expectations for individual performances can get high, for sure,” Murray said. “We expect a lot from (Alex Nylander), but I’ve been around long enough where we’ve lent players from the National Hockey League or the American league who have gone to play for Team Canada and had a limited role and you kind of get pissed off after. But that’s just the reality of it.”
On Saturday in Plymouth, Michigan, Swedish head coach Tomas Monten told the Buffalo News' Amy Moritz he isn't sure Nylander will get the green light from Buffalo GM Jason Botterill for Nylander to play again for Team Sweden at the IIHF World Junior Championships, which ironically will be hosted by the Buffalo Sabres and the hockey-crazed Western New York community.
Thus, Nylander was a glaring omission from Team Sweden's roster at the World Junior Summer Showcase this past week.
Will Nylander be suiting to for Tre Kronor come Boxing Day 2017?
"I don't think so," Monten said in. "Of course if Buffalo wants him to play, we're going to keep our door open. He for sure has a spot on our team but I think he's going to make Buffalo this year. That's why I didn't bring him. We haven't talked in the summer.
"Of course I'm going to ask Buffalo what they think. If he's available, we'll take him for sure but I don't think he is. I think he's going to play in Buffalo."
Wait a minute. Pump the brakes.
Did Monten say he thinks Nylander is going to play in Buffalo this season?
Do tell, coach.
I have a follow up question for Monten.
Did Sabres GM Jason Botterill tell you directly to not bother asking because Alex Nylander is playing in Buffalo this season? Or, are you speculating?
Nylander has NHL high skill and speed. What he lacked last season was size and strength.
Nylander did not disappoint at Sabres development camp last month. The slick skating wingers looked noticeably bigger and stronger through his shoulders, chest and biceps to me.
When Buffalo drafted him, Nylander was 6'1'" and 185 lbs. I'm told Nylander weight in at 190 lbs. last month. His added mass and muscle will serve him well in his quest to earn a full time job with the Sabres at training camp in September. Nylander will have to impress Phil Houlsy while out working vets Justin Bailey, Nick Baptiste and Hudson Fasching who are also looking to earn for roster spots in Buffalo.
In his rookie season in pro hockey in 2016-2017, Nylander was impressive. In four games played with the Buffalo Sabres, he notched an assist. In 65 games played with the Rochester Americans, Nylander scored 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points. As expected, the 18 year old pup looked lost at times in his first 25 games in the AHL. It took him some time to figure out the speed and physicality of playing against 28 and 30 year old men who have wives, kids and mortgages. The World Juniors success that Nylander encountered help to inspire his play with the Amerks from January until April. Nylander found his swagger while playing for his native Sweden.
At Sabres development camp, Nylander humbly said that he has a lot to prove about his game to new head coach Phil Housley and new GM Jason Botterill. Housley and Botterill were very complimentary of Nylander's contributions during drills and the 3-v-3 French connection tourney.
If he wants to win a roster spot with the Sabres, Nylander is going to have to drop jaws of Housley and Botterill by activating his high skill and speed during team scrimmages and exhibition games. Housley and Alex's father played together with the Calgary Flames. The relationship won't be enough to earn him an NHL pay check. Alex will have to use his God given talent to achieve his dream of playing in the NHL like his father and brother.
"Snipeshow" is the youngest son of former NHL forward Michael Nylander, who appeared in 920 career games for the Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. Papa Nylander amassed 679 points (209G, 470A) over a 22-year pro career that also included seven games in Rochester during the 2010-11 season, finishing with six points (4G, 2A). Alex's older brother, William, was drafted in the same spot (eighth overall) by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014. After spending the 2014-15 season in the AHL, William had himself a time during in his rookie season in Toronto. William, 21, played 81 games for the Maple Leafs last season scoring 22 goals and 39 assists for 61 points. In 6 playoff games, he scored 1 goal and 3 assists.
Alex Nylander has six weeks left before Sabres main camp begins to pump his guns and hammer away at his core and legs. When Nylander's size and strength are on par with his high end skill, he will be a mainstay on the Buffalo Sabres roster. Nylander wants to play in the NHL so bad he can taste it.
Thanks, Sabres.com
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Casey Mittelstadt is going to be an NHL rock star in the very near future.
Mittelstadt, the reigning "Mr. Hockey" award winner for being the high school player of the year in Hockey State Of Minnesota, dropped jaws at Sabres prospect development camp in July.
Mittelstadt took his game to the next level at the World Junior Hockey Showcase.
Mittelstadt is a super charged speedster who has been blessed with elite puck skills and a bomb of a shot.
There is nothing Mittelstadt can't do on a 200 by 85 foot sheet of glass.
The kid is special.
Mittelstadt played a leadership role and helped Team USA to flex it's hockey muscles at the 2017 World Junior Summer Showcase.
In six games, Mittelstadt recorded 9 points (1 PPG, 2 5v5 Gs, 6A), 10 shots on goal. He finished the WJC summer showcase with a sizzling 30% shooting percentage.
Mittelstadt is enrolled at the University of Minnesota. He is about to begin his freshman year later this month. Judging by his at times dominating performances at the recently concluded World Junior Summer Showcase, I am going on record right now saying that Mittelstadt will carry the Golden Gophers to victory at the 2018 NCAA Men's Hockey Championships.
Barring injury, Mittelstadt will use his special brand of twig sorcery and competitiveness to confound and confuse opponents in the Big 10.
Mittelstadt isn't resting on his laurels but rather writing exciting new chapters during his ascent to his dream of playing in the NHL.
I can see Mittelstadt playing just one season at U Minnesota then transitioning directly to Buffalo. In my opinion, the only thing he needs to do right now is to add man strength to his upper body and core. Unlike Canadian major junior hockey, NCAA college hockey will allow Mittelstadt to pump iron religiously from Monday to Thursday for the next 10-11 months. NCAA teams play their games on Fridays and Saturdays which means Mittelstadt and other top college prospects can develop their bodies more completely in preparation for the NHL.
Mittelstadt is now poised to have himself a season for the ages after dropping jaws and raising eyebrows at Buffalo sabres development camp and at the Team USA hosted WJC Summer Showcase.
Let's not forget that Mittelstadt was cut from and sent home early from Team USA's 2016 WJC Summer Showcase. I love how he just flipped the metaphoric bird to his haters and detractors with his exquisite performances in Buffalo and in Plymouth, Michigan.
I have a confession to make. Heading into the June NHL Draft, I had respect for Mittelstadt and his game based on a few viewings on TV and lots of game tape. However, having seen him grind, battle and take over games with his high end speed and skills in the past six weeks, up close and personal, I now have a whole new appreciation for his overall game.
I told an NHL scout friend that Mittelstadt has Max Afinogenov's explosion coupled with Thomas Vanek's hands and vision. My scout buddy agreed with me.
Mittelstadt is a special breed of cat.
Thanks, USA Hockey
Recently, Mittelstadt reached deep into his hockey bag of tricks and put on a show for the thousands of Sabres fans in attendance at the team's annual 3v3 tournamnent. Mittelstadt's vision, hand skills, rifle wrister, slick edge work and puck possession skills were front and center for all to see on each and every one of his shifts of the 3v3 scrimmage. Mittelstadt wanted the biscuit on his twig at all times. This kid possesses NHL speed and skill at age 18. He thinks the game so well and has the skill set of Phil Kessel. There is a lot to love about Mittelstadt's overall game.
Mittelstadt led Team White to the championship win at the 2017 French Connection 3v3 tourney.
Thanks, Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres fans are closing their eyes and imagining a day in the near future when Mittelstadt, Jack Eichel and Samson Reinhart are Buffalo's scoring power trio.
Sabres fans will love seeing Mittelstadt skate and create with Team USA at the World Junior tournament in Buffalo in December and January !!
I can't wait to watch the USA-Canada rematch on New Years Eve!
Canada will be looking to avenge the 7-5 pasting laid upon them by the Damn a Yankees on Saturday night's final game at the World Junior Summer Showcase.
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To all the analytics dorks who are outraged that former Sabres and current UFA D Cody Franson is employed at this juncture of the silly season, I say:
My eyeballs don't lie.
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