William and Alex Nylander would hardly describe their father Michael as sentimental.
Until word Friday the Leafs had signed Alex to an NHL contract ahead of playing with William for the Maple Leafs on Sunday against Utah.
“Very few times will he get emotional,” said Alex after his first practice Saturday. “It was a little unusual to see that from him. It was an awesome moment.”
The older William expected his dad might tear up a bit. He and Michael found out first from Toronto general manager Brad Treliving that a $775,000 US contract had been agreed to and broke the news to Alex.
“It’s special, two sons playing on the same team in the NHL is something only a couple of fathers get to experience.”
Michael, who played 967 NHL games himself, will see his boys become the 10th set of brothers to become Leafs, just the fifth to play at the same time.
“Words can’t really describe it,” William said. “This is what every hockey-playing brother wishes for as a kid. It will be amazing (Sunday) night.”
This was eight years in the making, though the plan once was for the Calgary-born, Swedish-raised siblings to grow up as division rivals, William chosen eighth overall by Toronto, Alex in the same position by Buffalo two years later. But as William developed into a fleet right winger currently 12th in Toronto franchise scoring, Alex never found his footing in Buffalo and had injury problems as he went through Chicago, Pittsburgh and most recently Columbus.
When the Blue Jackets didn’t retain him last year despite 11 goals in 23 games, he accepted an AHL deal with the Toronto Marlies, willing to work his way up in exchange for hanging out with William and Michael, using the Leafs’ practice facility and training staff this past summer.
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Alex had 12 points in 14 Marlie games and a spate of injuries gave him this opening. He’s proud that this moment has been earned and isn’t a publicity stunt.
“I’ve been playing good down there, we have a great team. Now that this has happened, I have to do what I can do on the ice and help the team win.”
Their last time on the same team was the 2016 world junior tournament, two pre-tournament games and a couple of shifts in the real thing before William was concussed.
They won’t be on the same line against Utah, at least according to coach Craig Berube’s Saturday practice lines. Pontus Holberg is centring William and Nick Robertson, Alex is taking the third line right side with centre Fraser Minten and Alex Steeves, a line that was effective on the Marlies. They’re on the first and second power-play units, respectively, and if they do wind up together, it’s likely William would be the centre.
The Leafs don’t plan to distinguish the brothers by a first initial on the back of their sweaters, just their surnames on William’s 88 and Alex’s 92, the latter what Michael wore in Calgary and Washington.
Michael will be at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday, while Alex says the rest of his family and many friends will be staying up late in Sweden to watch.
Leaf Brother Acts
* = Played at the same time
*The Jacksons
Harvey (Busher) 1929-39, Art (1934-37, 44-45)
*The Metzs
Nick (1934-42, 44-48), Don (1939-42, 45-49)
The Blairs
Chuck (1948-49), Dusty (1950-51)
The Hannigans
Ray (1948-49), Gord (1952-56) and Pat (1959-60)
*The Cullens
Barry (1955-59), Brian (1954-59)
The McRaes
Basil (1983-85), Chris (1987-89)
The Saccos
Joe (1990-93), David (1993-94)
The Ihnacaks
*Peter (1982-90), Miroslav (1985-87)
The Yaremchuks
Gary (1981-85), Ken (1986-89)
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