The Chicago Blackhawks had one final item on their “must-do” offseason checklist and that was to get restricted free agent Alexander Nylander a new deal for the 2021-22 season. On Monday morning, that final item got checked-off the list.
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Forward Alex Nylander returns to the #Blackhawks on a one-year deal. pic.twitter.com/XIFUMjXcwq
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 16, 2021
A one-year deal for Nylander at essentially the same price tag he held last season is completely fine with me as Nylander was expected to have a “prove it” season last year with the Blackhawks. Nylander missed all of last season due to knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus prior to the start of training camp in January. After skating in 65 games with Chicago during the 2019-20 season, tallying 10 goals and 26 points, Nylander was hoping to have a chance to prove he could be an NHL-regular with the Blackhawks, but missed that opportunity.
Alex Nylander back on the ice for the first time since knee surgery back in December
(🎥 IG:alexnylander/@snipeshow98)#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/ih5qucGnpF— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) April 18, 2021
After coming to the team in a one-for-one trade for Chicago’s 2017 first-round pick, defenseman Henri Jokiharju, Nylander had a target on his back after being labeled a potential bust from the Buffalo Sabres, being a first-round pick himself. Chicago traded a young, promising defenseman in exchange for a dynamic forward who had yet to find his footing in the NHL, and subsequently had a terrible defensive season where Jokiharju could have helped. So expectations were incredibly high in 2019-20 and Nylander missed reaching them in the eyes of many Blackhawks fans in his first year with the club.
Stan Bowman on Alex Nylander: “This will be an important season for him to perform consistently and contribute offensively. His size and skill are a unique combination that make him an intriguing option for our coaching staff to utilize anywhere in the lineup.” #Blackhawks
— Brandon Cain (@brandonmcain) August 16, 2021
He has been back on the ice for a few months now and all signs point to him being available to the Blackhawks as soon as training camp begins. Nylander likely will be fighting for playing time after the emergence of players like Brandon Hagel and Philipp Kurashev last season, as well as the additions of Henrik Borgström, Adam Gaudette, and potentially Lukas Reichel to the NHL lineup this season.
I’ve been a critic of Nylander’s since he’s been with Chicago, but I am hopeful for him to come back from his injury and have a shot to break into the lineup and be a regular for the Blackhawks. With the competition for ice-time that he’ll face, if he’s able to get a lineup spot, hold it, and thrive, all the better for Chicago. Time will tell.