New Blue Jacket Nylander is ready to call Columbus home
His father, Michael, was a longtime NHL star.
His older brother, William, is a current one.
When Alex Nylander was taken with the eighth pick of the NHL draft in 2016, he had every reason to think he’d have a similar career.
It hasn’t worked out that way yet, but he hopes his trade to the Blue Jackets will give him that elusive chance to establish himself. Columbus acquired Nylander and a conditional draft pick from Pittsburgh in a trade for Emil Bemstrom last week.
“Find a home? That would be amazing,” Nylander said. “That’s the goal. I didn’t think I’d be moving around this much when I first got drafted, but every career path is different.”
Nylander, who had been with Scranton of the American Hockey League, made his Blue Jackets debut in Sunday’s victory over the New York Rangers. He played wing on a line with Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson that played well.
“I’ve got a big opportunity here,” said Nylander, who turns 26 on Saturday.
The Blue Jackets are his fourth NHL team. Buffalo drafted him, and he made his NHL debut with the Sabres. But he didn’t stick and was traded in 2019 to Chicago. He played in 65 games that season, scoring 10 goals.
Then he tore the meniscus in his left knee during the playoffs. What he said is normally a 4-to-6-month recovery from surgery took him seven months because of where his meniscus was torn. It took even longer to feel close to fully healthy. Chicago traded him to Pittsburgh in January 2022.
Michael Nylander was well-traveled as well. He played for eight teams in his 15-year NHL career. William, on the other hand, has become a mainstay with Toronto. Like his brother, an eighth overall draft pick (in 2014), he has 31 goals this season and 208 for his career.
“When I first got drafted, that’s what you’re looking for – the kind of career that my dad and brother had,” Nylander said. “Obviously, mine has been different. You can’t think about it too much. The more you think about it, the more it gets in your head.
“I’m just trying to stay positive, keep working and grinding it out. Even though I was in the (American Hockey League), I did believe in myself that I could get back here.”
Nylander said having his dad and brother as a support system has been invaluable.
“I talk with them almost every day, whether it’s about hockey or not,” he said. “I’m really thankful for that.”
Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said he was encouraged by Nylander’s debut. Vincent said Nylander told him the Jackets’ terminology and systems are similar to the Penguins’, so it was not a difficult adjustment for him.
“Smart guy, good reads, held on to the puck,” Vincent said. “He played really well, I thought.”