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Does Alex Nylander have a shot to make the Calgary Flames roster?

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Aug 26 2026, 3:47 pm
Does Alex Nylander have a shot to make the Calgary Flames roster?
David Kirouac/USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a quiet offseason for the Calgary Flames in regard to free agency, though they are reportedly closing in on one interesting transaction.

As first reported by Puckpedia on Tuesday night, the Flames are expected to sign Alex Nylander to a professional tryout offer (PTO). The 28-year-old is coming off a Calder Cup championship-winning season with the Toronto Marlies.

Nylander is the younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs star forward William Nylander. He’s also the son of Michael Nylander, who suited up for 168 games with the Flames early in his lengthy NHL career.

Alex was once a highly touted prospect, having been selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2016. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to put it all together at the NHL level, having put up just 49 points through a combined 126 career games.

What he has been able to do, however, is put up points in bunches in the AHL.

The 2025-26 season saw Alex record 24 goals and 53 points in 65 regular-season games with the Marlies, which was good enough for second in team scoring. That could be what the Flames are looking for out of him.

Rather than expecting Alex to make an impact for the Flames, this move could be a consideration for the Wranglers, who could use some scoring after losing Martin Frk this offseason.

Frk, who scored a combined 57 goals and 120 points for the Wranglers the past two seasons, signed a two-year deal with the Shanghai Dragons of the KHL earlier this summer. They will need someone to replace that offence, and Alex may be the option.

As far as the NHL roster is concerned, it’s difficult to see a path for Alex to suit up for the Flames.

Despite the fact that they are expected to finish the 2026-27 season near the bottom of the NHL standings, the Flames are fully focused on their rebuild and would prefer to have younger players in their lineup than Alex, who, at 28, is unlikely to show any sort of significant improvement at the NHL level.

While the name and his draft position will certainly catch some eyeballs, Flames fans shouldn’t be expecting to see Alex on the roster to begin the 2026-27 season. That said, there is a chance he’s playing at the Scotiabank Saddledome in a Wranglers jersey in the near future.

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