Buffalo Sabres: Time for Alexander Nylander to step up

Alexander Nylander has intriguing upside, but is the winger ever going to live him to his potential with the Buffalo Sabres?

When the Buffalo Sabres selected Alexander Nylander eighth overall in the 2016 NHL draft, it was perceived as somewhat of a surprise. At the time, the team was supposedly eager to find a quality left-shot defenseman.

Despite the surprise pick though, there was no denying Nylander’s talent. The overriding sentiment was that he was the complete package, with intriguing upside.

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As of today, the 21-year-old is still viewed as a highly creative and talented prospect. By the same token however, he has been a disappointment in terms of where he is in his development.

This has led to concerns within the front office – and by fans – that Nylander may never fully live up to his potential. Certainly, this would explain why there has been some speculation that he could be moved.

TSN‘s Darren Dreger recently suggested the 2016 eighth overall draft pick could be available to be traded. As reported by Brayton Wilson of WGR 550, Dreger made his comments while appearing on The Instigators.

Whether a trade actually comes to fruition is another matter. It’s not as if Dreger made his suggestion with any real conviction.

In any event, it doesn’t change the reality that the 2019-20 campaign will be an extremely important one for Nylander. It’s time for him to step up his effort to become the player the Sabres hoped he was going to be when they selected him.

In fairness to the winger, his development has been compromised by injury issues, including at the end of last season. Further, whenever he has been called up, he’s been joining a Sabres team which has not been particularly good in recent seasons.

For what it’s worth, Nylander has seen his productivity improve during his time with the Rochester Americans. Just last season, he had a career-best 12 goals and 31 overall points, despite playing his fewest games in three seasons in the AHL.

Of course this only matters to a certain extent; the Swedish international really needs to start showing what he can do at the highest level. Last season he received his most action yet in the NHL, with 12 appearances.

With two goals and two assists, the return was nothing spectacular. However, it still represented Nylander’s best productivity yet for the Sabres; it’s also worth reiterating he was playing for a poor team; one which was in free-fall after an excellent first half of the 2018-19 campaign.

Sabres fans are understandably fed up of the losing, with a playoff drought now lasting a franchise-record eight seasons. The rebuild has gone on longer than anyone anticipated.

There is hope for the team, especially with the like of Jack Eichel, Rasmus Dahlin and Jeff Skinner on the roster. But it’s going to take more for the Sabres to finally return to the playoffs, which is where players such as Nylander come in.

Further, the Calgary, Alberta native needs to push on for his own sake, with just two seasons remaining before he becomes a restricted free agent. (He can help his case by improving his strength, as well as his effort on the ice without the puck.)

At some point, excellent potential turns to wasted ability. It’s now up to Nylander to prove himself and avoid going down a similar path to so many talented players who came before him.

Do you see Nylander being traded by the Buffalo Sabres? Assuming he sticks around, what kind of season are you predicting for him in 2019-20? Let us know in the comments section below.