Knies injury paves way for Nylander brothers' dream

TORONTO — This was always the dream, then it became a strategic goal: the Nylanders uniting on the same NHL team.

But, surely, this was not the envisioned path.

On Friday, Matthew Knies’ trip to injured reserve with a suspected concussion spurred the Toronto Maple Leafs to upgrade Alex Nylander’s AHL contract into an NHL one. 

And, with the Leafs now down to 12 available forwards, brothers, roommates and besties Alex and William should share a sheet Sunday versus Utah HC.

The hockey gods work in mysterious ways.

“Hopefully that works out the way we want it,” William foreshadowed at training camp, shortly after his younger sibling settled for a Marlies contract in hopes this day would come.

“It was a dream since we were younger to both just be in the NHL," added Alex, 26, during his first meeting with reporters in blue and white.

"Now that we have a chance to play on the same team together, it's huge. It's a dream come true if that happens.”

Oh, it’s happening.

True, it only took six injuries and a suspension to Toronto’s top 12 forwards, but here we are: Alex Nylander is a Maple Leaf, inking a cap-friendly, one-year, $775,000 contract to stop riding buses and start riding a high.

Alex was a top-10 pick in 2016 and an unrestricted free agent over the summer. 

Finishing 2023-24 on a high note, potting 11 goals in 23 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets, he had two-way offers from multiple NHL clubs before deciding on an unconventional route for his fifth franchise.

“It was best to go here. They really care about the development of players and can make me better,” Alex said of his choice to work his way up from the farm. 

“My brother was a big influence, and my dad (former NHLer Michael Nylander) and my agent were talking a lot throughout the summer. We thought this was the best option in my career."

So, Alex moved in with his off-season training partner, William, downtown and set to impressing with the Marlies, sniping eight goals and adding four assists in 14 games this season.

Without the option of a simple callup, Alex was leapfrogged by Alex Steeves, Fraser Minten, and Nikita Grebenkin as the big club’s forward injuries mounted. 

But once Knies was officially ruled out due to the “upper-body” injury suffered from Wednesday’s hard bodycheck to the chest and head from Vegas’s Zach Whitecloud.

Following review, the official and situation room deemed the hit legal, infuriating many a Leafs fan.

“It’s a hockey hit. It’s been around forever,” Berube maintained. “It’s a clean hit. It’s a tough play, but it’s hockey. It’s part of the game. 

“So, we’ve got to move on from it. He needs to get healthy, and we need him back as quickly as possible.”

Knies has been phenomenal this season, chipping in on special teams, asserting himself as a top-six fixture, and ranking third on the team in goals.

He also has a concussion history, dating back to Sam Bennett’s second-round takedown in the spring of 2023, and not every Maple Leaf agrees that Whitecloud hit within the rules.

“I don't think it's a good call,” argued defenceman Simon Benoit, who jumped Whitecloud in immediate response to the neutral-zone check. “His feet were off the ice when he hit Kniesy right to the head, so I had to go in there and just protect my teammate. I think it was just not a good hit.

“You just react. You see a guy do something like that, and you let him know it’s not something that’s gonna pass — and hopefully he remembers.”

Down to just 11 forwards for Friday’s practice prior to the Alex Nylander signing, Berube revealed that the organization was contemplating using seven defencemen against Utah this weekend.

But he hardly sounded bullish on the idea.

“They get out of sync a little bit, using seven D,” Berube said, “but it’s definitely something we talk about.”

Signing another forward, however, keeps the lines flowing — and allows William and Alex to live out a lifelong dream.

One-Timers: Berube assures everything went well with Auston Matthews’ treatment in Munich. “He's actually improving and in a real good spot right now going forward. So, we’re very happy with that,” the coach said. Matthews, who hasn’t skated since Nov. 10, is a maybe to hit the ice this weekend…. Oliver Ekman-Larsson missed Friday’s practice due to illness but remains an option for Sunday…. Sounds like Pontus Holmberg will stick at centre. Berube believes Wednesday’s win marked his best effort of the year. Promoted to second-line centre, Holmberg skated a season-high 17:40 and registered his first goal with an empty-netter…. Philippe Myers was recalled from his conditioning loan.