dudacek Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 (edited) NHL scouts ranked him the sixth best prospect outside the NHL last year and he shredded the World Junior Championships in points. But he also looked soft and overmatched in his first pro season in Rochester. As he prepares to open the Prospects Challenge (at centre, between Baptiste and Bailey), what do you think we will get from Alex Nylander? Edited September 8, 2017 by dudacek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 NHL scouts ranked him the sixth best prospect outside the NHL last year and he shredded the World Junior Championships in points. But he also looked soft and overmatched in his first pro season in Rochester. As he prepares to open the Prospects Challenge (at centre, between Baptiste and Bailey), what do you think we will get from Alex Nylander? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 I'm hoping for an injury free AHL season where he looks a little more comfortable playing against the pros. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Flagg Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 I'm hoping for an injury free AHL season where he looks a little more comfortable playing against the pros.Same for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eleven Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 Me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_sauve28 Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 I don't think he was surrounded by much talent in Ra cha cha. Put good players around him an d he will produce....I hope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3putt Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 I am hoping he is in the top 6 by Thanksgiving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drunkard Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 I just hope he can be productive at the AHL level and not look out of place if/when he gets called up to play in Buffalo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted September 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 He looks so intense in his interview, I worry he's going to be squeezing the stick too much today and beyond. I hope he finds the groove, but I expect he's putting too much pressure on himself and is headed for a disappointing camp. On the flip side of that, I expect him to be flying by the new year and to be called up with an eye on handing him Kane's spot after a deadline trade. I'm not a huge fan of his game (soft wingers just aren't really my thing) but his talent level is underrated around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_sauve28 Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 He looks so intense in his interview, I worry he's going to be squeezing the stick too much today and beyond. I hope he finds the groove, but I expect he's putting too much pressure on himself and is headed for a disappointing camp. On the flip side of that, I expect him to be flying by the new year and to be called up with an eye on handing him Kane's spot after a deadline trade. I'm not a huge fan of his game (soft wingers just aren't really my thing) but his talent level is underrated around here. So you order your wings extra crispy? :angel: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3putt Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 He looks so intense in his interview, I worry he's going to be squeezing the stick too much today and beyond. I hope he finds the groove, but I expect he's putting too much pressure on himself and is headed for a disappointing camp. On the flip side of that, I expect him to be flying by the new year and to be called up with an eye on handing him Kane's spot after a deadline trade. I'm not a huge fan of his game (soft wingers just aren't really my thing) but his talent level is underrated around here. I would take his performance in this tourney with a grain of salt. At center, not his projected position, is a bit odd. But it could be an opportunity to see his IQ in action as well as his defensive awareness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pi2000 Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 40 goal season playing Jack's wing... in 2020-21. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huckleberry Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 One more season in the AHL for this kid, unless he really surprises us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfreeman Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 If anyone expects him to play half the season or more in Buffalo -- I'd be curious if you could articulate your reasoning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Buffalo Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 If anyone expects him to play half the season or more in Buffalo -- I'd be curious if you could articulate your reasoning.Talent, but up and down kinda year...imo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted September 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 (edited) If anyone expects him to play half the season or more in Buffalo -- I'd be curious if you could articulate your reasoning.I don't but I can: 1. The kid has NHL talent: he may not have shown the ability to use it yet professionally, but his package of skating, vision, hands, shot and passing is top drawer. 2. He had last year to experience the higher pace and culture shock of the pro game and will be better prepared mentally 3. He's transformed his body from that of a high schooler to that of a college student; he's clearly better prepared physically 4. There is an opening at left wing for him right now, and that opening may get huge if Matt Moulson and Benoit Pouliot continue to regress and Evander Kane moves on. 5. There is all kinds of evidence of skilled-but-weak 18-year-olds not being ready, only to make the jump the following year. Mitch Marner, Nikolai Ehlers, Sam Bennett, Alex's brother William, our own Sam Reinhart just to name a few recently. The difference is those players went back to junior and dominated while Alex played pro and struggled. Given his dominance at the WJC last year however, he likely would have dominated juniors as much as they did. It's the poor pro numbers that have skewed people's perspective. As I said, I don't expect him here until he has proven himself at the AHL level, but there certainly is a reasonable case to be made that he could be. Edited September 8, 2017 by dudacek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derrico Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 Very good points. I think point 5 is what you hope to hang your hat on. That kid would of put up video game numbers in junior similar to Marner and Reinhart if he went back. I'm not sure how well Sam would have looked playing in the A when he was sent back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasmus_ Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 Honestly, if he shows that he can skate well and has put on the size that it looks like he has, he should make the team. If he's struggling he can always use more seasoning in the AHL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LikeEich Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 I don't but I can: 1. The kid has NHL talent: he may not have shown the ability to use it yet professionally, but his package of skating, vision, hands, shot and passing is top drawer. 2. He had last year to experience the higher pace and culture shock of the pro game and will be better prepared mentally 3. He's transformed his body from that of a high schooler to that of a college student; he's clearly better prepared physically 4. There is an opening at left wing for him right now, and that opening may get huge if Matt Moulson and Benoit Pouliot continue to regress and Evander Kane moves on. 5. There is all kinds of evidence of skilled-but-weak 18-year-olds not being ready, only to make the jump the following year. Mitch Marner, Nikolai Ehlers, Sam Bennett, Alex's brother William, our own Sam Reinhart just to name a few recently. The difference is those players went back to junior and dominated while Alex played pro and struggled. Given his dominance at the WJC last year however, he likely would have dominated juniors as much as they did. It's the poor pro numbers that have skewed people's perspective. As I said, I don't expect him here until he has proven himself at the AHL level, but there certainly is a reasonable case to be made that he could be. Agree with all of this it's not out of the realm of possibility, although it is unlikely. That being said if he has a good pre season, I could see him getting a couple games to start the season. If he was tearing it up he could play 82 in the NHL. He would have to be incredible though,more likely being counted on as part of the culture change in the A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorner Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 (edited) Very good points. I think point 5 is what you hope to hang your hat on. That kid would of put up video game numbers in junior similar to Marner and Reinhart if he went back. I'm not sure how well Sam would have looked playing in the A when he was sent back. It's hard to say, and it's such a small sample size, but I think Sam had 3 points in 3 games for Rochester at the end of his first post-draft junior season. 2015-16 Sam was probably almost here by the end of the 2014-15 season. Nylander I think is a little behind that pace as I don't think he took large strides in the AHL towards the end last year, as far as I know. I think it'll click this year for him in the AHL. On the main roster after the deadline is possible, perhaps depending on Kane. Edited September 9, 2017 by Thorny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueBlueGED Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 If anyone expects him to play half the season or more in Buffalo -- I'd be curious if you could articulate your reasoning. Mostly what Dudacek said. I think he's a mid-season call-up, gets time with skill, and doesn't go back down. That said, even if he develops and plays like I think, his style is such that plenty of fans will still hate him. Soft, skilled wingers aren't exactly a Buffalo favorite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 Honestly, I think he needs another AHL year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rakish Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 My view is he's not an NHL player, Asplund is better, Mittelstadt is better, Pu won't need to be on a top line. I might be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubkev Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 My view is he's not an NHL player, Asplund is better, Mittelstadt is better, Pu won't need to be on a top line. I might be wrong. Well, that would be a pretty big in miss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueBlueGED Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 Honestly, I think he needs another AHL year. And if he does, I have faith Botterill will give him that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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