3 reasons why Toronto Maple Leafs' Nylander brothers experiment was a massive failure

The Toronto Maple Leafs placed two players on waivers on Wednesday: Dakota Mermis and Alex Nylander, insider Elliotte Friedman reported. Both players were offseason acquisitions intended to provide the team with depth.

However, Mermis spent a fair chunk of the season on LTIR while Alex Nylander worked his way up to earn a promotion and play alongside his brother. Mermis has yet to see an NHL game this season, while Nylander has appeared in five games, failing to register a point.

Assuming both players are clear, they’ll be reassigned to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. But for Alex Nylander in particular, there are three specific reasons why reuniting Alex and William Nylander was a massive failure.

3 reasons why the Toronto Maple Leafs Nylander brothers experiment was a massive failure

#3 Alex was a first-round bust

Alex Nylander was selected in the first round of the 2016 draft by the Buffalo Sabres. However, he failed to live up to the expectations. Alex managed just six points in 19 games with Buffalo before moving on to the Chicago Blackhawks.

In Chicago, Alex had his best season, notching 26 points in 65 during the 2019-20 season. Unfortunately, he was unable to follow that up, falling off the radar. He had somewhat of a bounce-back season in 2023-24 with 15 points in 23 for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

That performance prompted the Toronto Maple Leafs to give the junior Nylander a shot. But it seems things just didn’t work out.

#2 Alex Nylander got a chance to play due to injuries

The unusually high number of injuries up front prompted the Toronto Maple Leafs to promote Alex Nylander. During a span of ten games, the Leafs lost Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, Max Domi, David Kampf, and Ryan Reaves (suspension).

That situation left some lineup spots up for grabs. While Alex played a gritty, grinding game, he was unable to generate much offense. As a result, the return of lineup regulars pushed Nylander back down the depth, eventually landing him in the AHL.

#1 The Leafs bet on sympathy, not production

During the offseason, Alex Nylander mentioned that he had received NHL contract offers from other teams. However, he chose the Toronto Maple Leafs because he believed Toronto was a good fit for his development. So, he opted to sign a minor-league deal.

Both sides hoped that the prospect of reuniting Alex with his older brother, William, would unlock the former’s potential. But in Alex’s five-game trial, he did not produce much on the scoresheet.

The problem is that the Leafs have plenty of bottom-six grinders. What the team truly needs is depth scoring that can take the team to the next level. Unless Alex Nylander can show that, he will most likely remain in the AHL.