5 surprise winners for the NHL’s 2020 Calder Trophy
By Kyle McKenna
2. Alexander Nylander
Buffalo Sabres fans may cringe, but their former eighth overall pick from the 2016 NHL Entry Draft could surprise hockey fans alike and make a name for himself in his new city.
Alexander Nylander, now of the Chicago Blackhawks, is an eligible skater for the Calder Trophy after playing parts of the past three seasons with Buffalo. Nylander portrayed notable and positive signs early on with the Blackhawks and was even skating on the team’s top line at one point.
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The Calgary, Alb. native’s play of late has been inconsistent, but the potential is there for Nylander to reach his expected potential as a dynamic and offensive scoring threat, especially if he can play alongside a skater such as Patrick Kane.
It’s fair to argue that Nylander needed a change of scenery after struggling to crack Buffalo’s lineup fulltime, but forward will be given the chance to succeed while playing for an organization that’s ultimate goal is to win a fourth Stanley Cup championship in less than a decade.
Nylander’s five points (2g-3a) in nine games isn’t great, but it’s not a terrible stat line for a skater that’s still adjusting to a new team and skating as an everyday player with a Cup contender. While veteran skaters such as Kane and Jonathan Toews are key for Nylander’s growth in the Windy City, second-year coach Jeremy Colliton appears to be a bench boss that can help the youngster make serious strides in a short time frame.
Come April 2020, Nylander’s name could be in the mix for Rookie of the Year.