Buffalo Sabres: What should we expect from Alexander Nylander?

Alexander Nylander arguably hasn’t progressed as much as projected, but the Buffalo Sabres are expecting big things from him during the upcoming season.

When the Buffalo Sabres selected Alexander Nylander with the eighth pick in the 2016 draft, the excitement was palpable. The general consensus was the Katanas had essentially got a steal, when combining their position in the draft and the talent of the player.

In all likelihood, this will probably still prove to be the case. However, it’s fair to claim Nylander has not progressed quite as much as expected up to this point.

Look no further than the 19-year-old’s lack of production during his time in Rochester. His 28 points in 65 games were considerably underwhelming, while — for what it’s worth — his plus/minus rating of -24 was the worst among all Amerks players.

Nylander was significantly more effective at the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. His 12 points in seven games tied for best among all players, as he helped Sweden finish fourth in the tournament.

The winger was recalled by the Sabres for the final four games of the 2016/17 campaign, to provide him with an opportunity to show what he had. However, even though he registered an assist in the last game of the season, this proved to be his only point in the NHL.

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With all this said, it leads to the question of what we can expect from Nylander in the upcoming season? If nothing else, the experience he has already accumulated, will surely put him in a better position to succeed?

Of course, the game of hockey doesn’t usually come with any guarantees, but this doesn’t change the fact the Calgary, Alberta native is highly talented, with an intriguing upside.

Apart from stepping up his game (and effort), the main concern surrounding Nylander, relates to his size and being physically overpowered. However, he is at least doing something to rectify this, by putting in the necessary work during the offseason, to fill out his frame.

One person who genuinely believes Nylander will progress this season — including playing more for the Sabres — is Swedish coach Tomas Monten. As reported by Amy Moritz of The Buffalo News, Monten said:

"“If he’s available (for the 2018 World Junior Championships), we’ll take him for sure, but I don’t think he is. I think he’s going to play in Buffalo.”"

As a final point, it’s worth noting Nylander is still only a teenager. As such, it is conceivable he could start the season in Rochester, for a second straight year.

In this respect, we will have a better idea, as the Sabres progress through training camp. Make no mistake about it though, more will still be expected from the youngster in the upcoming months.

Next: How much should Jack Eichel earn from new deal?

What was your analysis of Nylander’s productivity last season? What kind of success are you predicting for him during the 2017/18 campaign? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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