Alex Nylander has 16 points in 22 games for the Toronto Marlies as he yearns to get back to the National Hockey League.<\/p>\n
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Published Dec 17, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n As part of our Maple Leafs coverage at the Toronto Sun, we\u2019re keeping tabs on the club\u2019s prospects<\/a>, checking in on a weekly basis with the Leafs\u2019 hopefuls across the hockey landscape.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Today, we talk to forward Alex Nylander and defenceman Noah Chadwick of the Toronto Marlies.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n NYLANDER\u2019S NHL MINDSET <\/p>\n Nylander hasn\u2019t lost sight of his primary hockey goal.<\/p>\n After signing an American Hockey League contract with the Marlies in August, the 27-year-old forward yearns to play again in the National Hockey League, preferably with the Leafs and older brother William<\/a>.<\/p>\n We apologize, but this video has failed to load.<\/p>\n Play Video<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re playing with an AHL contract, anybody can sign you, but I want to play (for the Leafs),\u201d Alex Nylander said. \u201cI want to prove to them that I can play up there and deserve (an NHL) contract by playing well.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s a big opportunity for me here too, to show them. My mindset stays the same, to get to the NHL, and I know I can play there.\u201d<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n If Nylander\u2019s hope becomes reality, it would follow what happened last year. He signed an AHL deal with the Marlies in the summer of 2024, but when the Leafs were hit with several injuries to forwards last November, Nylander signed a one-year contract with the club and skated in five games, recording no points.<\/p>\n In 126 career NHL games<\/a> with Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Columbus and Toronto, Nylander has 25 goals and 245 assists.<\/p>\n In 22 games with the Marlies in 2025-26, Nylander is tied for third in team scoring with 16 points (seven goals and nine assists).<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019ve been playing really good, really consistent, which has been one thing I\u2019ve been trying to work on,\u201d Nylander said. \u201cI\u2019ve had a lot of good games this year.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI had a little stretch where I was having a tough time finding the back of the net, but I was still playing really well and getting the chances. I\u2019m feeling really good.\u201d<\/p>\n Nylander has five points in his past five games as the Marlies head into a weekend home-and-home set against the Belleville Senators, who fired their head coach on Wednesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n No matter where he is playing in Toronto, Nylander has the bonus of talking shop with William. The two share a residence in the city and the conversation usually turns to hockey.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of fun when he\u2019s home and I\u2019m home, and we can talk to each other and watch each other\u2019s games, and we try to help each other out to be as best as we can,\u201d Alex said. \u201cWe love talking hockey. He knows what my goals are. There\u2019s even more of a boost to play better and harder, because you want to play with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n CHADWICK TAKING STEPS<\/p>\n What the Marlies \u2014 and by extension the Leafs \u2014 had hoped would unfold with Chadwick, a 20-year-old rookie defenceman, is bearing some developmental fruit.<\/p>\n Chadwick has played in all but one of the Marlies\u2019 first 26 games and has done well in finding his way in the pro game following a productive junior career with Lethbridge of the Western Hockey League.<\/p>\n When we talked to Chadwick at the end of October<\/a>, he was getting his feet wet. It\u2019s different some six weeks later.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s getting thrown in the fire a little bit,\u201d Marlies coach John Gruden said. \u201cHe\u2019s getting great experience. He\u2019s playing in all situations. He has had to expand his role and he has played extremely well. He is taking advantage of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Injuries on the blue line \u2014 for both the Leafs and the Marlies \u2014 have opened spots. Still, if Gruden and his staff didn\u2019t think Chadwick was capable of learning on the job, he wouldn\u2019t be getting increased ice time.<\/p>\n If a player is going to properly grow, he has to be allowed to move on from mistakes. That\u2019s what is happening with Chadwick.<\/p>\n \u201cHe made a turnover that led to a goal (against Cleveland on Sunday),\u201d Gruden said. \u201cBut the 15 minutes he played after that were probably the 15 best minutes I\u2019ve seen him play all season.<\/p>\n \u201cThat says a lot about where his mind is, and his ability to recover from those mistakes. Mistakes are going to happen. He understood it and he played extremely well after that.\u201d<\/p>\n As such, Chadwick\u2019s confidence continues to solidify. There\u2019s good communication and he\u2019s not left wondering what he has to do next.<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not yesterday\u2019s game, it\u2019s today\u2019s habits,\u201d Chadwick said. \u201cThat\u2019s the mentality. Come back to the rink and be a student and put the work in every day.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m grateful for (getting the game action that he is). At the same token, I\u2019m trying to continue to build trust with (Gruden and the staff).\u201d<\/p>\n What does Chadwick like about his game right now?<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Craig Berube vs. William Nylander is not the first battle between a Maple Leafs coach and star<\/p>\n![\"Goaltender](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Alexander-Nylander-March-12-e1741806687150.jpg\")
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers stops a shot by Alexander Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs during a game last year. Photo by Joel Auerbach \/Getty ImagesArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.2.3\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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