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'I'm A Super Proud Brother': Maple Leafs' William Nylander Thrilled as Alex Nylander Flourishes in NHL with Blue Jackets

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Maple Leafs
By David Alter | Last updated 3/18/24

William Nylander is happy to see his younger brother, Alex, find some success in the NHL.

Following the Toronto Maple Leafs' 5-4 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, William was asked if was happy to see Alex find what seems to be a permanent landing spot with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

"I'm a super proud brother," William said. "He's been battling his entire career and been given a really good chance to play and showing what he can do. I mean, super proud brother."

Alex Nylander has eight goals and 11 points through 11 games since getting traded to Columbus.

William Nylander: "I'm a super proud brother. He's been battling his entire career and been given a really good chance to play and showing what he can do. I mean, super proud brother." https://t.co/qNLF1NKRCY
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) March 17, 2024

Alex has eight goals and three assists in his first 12 games with the Jackets. He was acquired in a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins along with a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft in exchange for forward Emil Bemstrom on Feb. 22.

The Penguins have acquired forward Emil Bemstrom from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Alex Nylander and a conditional 2026 sixth-round draft pick.

Details: https://t.co/i6pER7L0pF pic.twitter.com/lmAG5lc19g
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 23, 2024

Selected in the first round (eighth overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL Draft, Alex appeared to be a little bit of a late bloomer. He appeared to find some traction with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2019-20 season, scoring 10 goals and 16 assists in 65 games. but went pointless in eight playoff games during the COVID playoffs bubble in 2020. A knee injury in that season forced him to miss all of the 2020-21 season.

William, a first-round pick (eight overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft, as flourished in the NHL with 517 points in 587 games and perhaps expectations were high for Alexander to do the same.

Alex is a restricted free agent at the end of the season.