TORONTO — “What’s up, teammate?”
That’s how Alex Nylander answered the phone when he heard his older sibling on the line Friday afternoon, shortly after signing a rush contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Alex wanted to surprise William with the happy news. But GM Brad Treliving already let the cat out of the bag, calling his leading goal scorer while William was out shopping for new taps for his condo renovation with their father, Michael — who got emotional.
“You don’t really see that from him,” Alex told reporters.
“Two sons playing on the same team in the NHL is probably pretty special. Only a couple of fathers get the experience,” William added.
Michael was in the barn Sunday for the Maple Leafs’ 3-2 comeback win over Utah HC, the night his two sons — brothers, roommates, carpool pals, and best friends — had been trying to manifest since childhood.
The dream they got a brief taste of at the 2016 world junior championship, when they shared a couple shifts in those blinding-yellow Tre Kronor sweaters before a concussion ended William’s tournament early.
On Sunday, they posed during warmups for a photo in Blue and White sweaters with identical NYLANDER nameplates, and they shared a few even-strength shifts and some power-play time thanks to coach Craig Berube’s subtle sentimentality.
“If you take the numbers off, it’s hard to differentiate between the two of them,” Chris Tanev noted.
For happy ending’s sake, William scored the breakaway winner, a cheeky five-hole deposit through the wickets of Karel Vejmelka. Technically, Nylander’s 14th of the season will go down unassisted, but everyone knew the superstar had a helping boost from seeing his little brother on the same sheet.
“Felt pretty crazy,” William smiled. “Words can’t really describe it. I think this is what every hockey-playing brother pair probably wishes for as kids.”
“Just an amazing feeling. It’s something I’ll remember forever,” said Alex, whose promotion to the big club only arrived after seven regular Leafs forwards became unavailable.
“I obviously just got to work hard every shift. Be heavy on the forecheck. Win battles. And when I do that, the rest of my game comes. Obviously, try to use my shot as much as possible and create plays and be good defensively.”
Pitched William: “If he stays up, it’d be nice to get some more (shifts) together.”
Alex ripped two shots on net and fit in just fine, as one would expect from a 26-year-old with 122 games of NHL experience, but his ice time (10:37) ranked second-lowest among Leafs.
That’s significant because healthy bodies are coming.
Captain Auston Matthews — whose team, remarkably, improved to 7-1 without him — skated Saturday and Sunday and announced Wednesday as a possible return date.
Matthew Knies also hit the ice Sunday for the first time since sustaining an upper-body injury from the Zach Whitecloud check.
And Max Domi is eligible to come off injured reserve whenever he gets the green light.
In other words, some of these kids and callups will be heading back to the minors this week.
As wonderful and unique as the Nylander reunion has been, Alex will be in tough to carve a regular lineup spot on a roster busy with hungry bottom-six forwards.
“Something I’m sure they’ll remember for a long time,” said Mitch Marner, recognizing a couple of beauties after scoring a couple beauties.
“A lot of guys down there (with the Marlies) can definitely be playing on a full-time NHL roster. So, we got a lot of confidence whoever’s in our lineup.”
While who’s in the lineup doesn’t seem to matter much in Toronto these days, as the Leafs stick to the system and seem to win regardless, who’s in the lineup was a story Sunday.
And, with all eyes on Matthews’ return, it will be again Wednesday in Sunrise.
“It’s a special situation. Very happy for both of them — and their dad,” Berube said.
“We’ll see if we get any healthy bodies back. But you know it’s going to be a battle, starting in Florida.”
Fox’s Fast Five
• Familia facts: The Nylanders became the first brothers in more than 37 years to play in a game together for the Maple Leafs and fifth set overall, following Barry and Brian Cullen, Don and Nick Metz, Art and Busher Jackson, and Miroslav and Peter Ihnacak.
• Quote of the Day.
A smiling Morgan Rielly, when asked if he was ever teammates with his older brother, Connor: “I don’t think he’d be offended if I said this, but we were playing at different levels.”
• Despite encouraging Marner and William Nylander to practise draws and discussing them as centre options both publicly and behind the scenes, Berube has been reluctant to move either from the wing.
“I still think it’s really important to have a guy that has the experience and the reps at the middle of the ice,” Berube explains. “Also, you put Willy or Mitch in the middle, it’s a lot of work — and these guys are doing a good job with the position they’re in right now.”
• Downtown traffic was so horrendous following the conclusion of the Santa Claus Parade, the Utah players walked to Scotiabank Arena from their hotel.
No sense taking the team bus when the bus can’t move.
• Fraser Minten began wearing a neck guard last season when the CHL mandated them for junior players. He ditched the extra protection during summer skates but began to feel vulnerable.
Much like teammate Simon Benoit, Minten now wears a one-piece guard as a pro and doesn’t think twice.
“It feels normal now,” he says. “Why not, if it gives you a little less risk?”
