Homecoming 🙌 We've signed Alex Nylander to a one-year, two-way contract with an AAV of $850,000!
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Alex Nylander’s try-out is successful: Flames sign forward to one year, two-way deal ($850,000)
Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Sep 25, 2026, 18:32 EDT
Alex Nylander is officially a Calgary Flame.
On Friday afternoon, the team announced that they’ve signed the winger to a one-year deal with a cap hit of $850,000.
Nylander signed a professional tryout shortly before the beginning of training camp. Born in Calgary to former Flame Michael Nylander, A. Nylander was selected eighth overall in the 2016 National Hockey League draft by the Buffalo Sabres.
He hasn’t quite reached his potential since becoming an NHLer. His best season was in 2019-20 with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he scored 10 goals and 26 points in 65 games. In 2023-24 with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nylander scored a career-best 11 goals with 15 points in just 23 games.
At 28 years old, expect Nylander to bring some veteran leadership to a rather young team in the midst of a rebuild.
Most of his career has been spent in the American Hockey League. Last season, he won the Calder Cup with the Toronto Marlies, scoring 24 goals and 53 points in 65 regular season games, before just mustering six goals and seven points in 24 post-season games. It was the third time in his AHL career he’s scored 23 or more goals with 44 or more points.
Whenever Nylander makes his debut for the Flames, he’ll become the third second-generation player to suit up in the red and orange. His dad, Michael, spent parts of five seasons in Calgary, scoring 34 goals and 108 points in 168 games. He went on to play 920 career NHL games over 15 seasons, scoring 209 goals and 679 points.
Other second-generation players to have played for the Flames are Max Reinhart, son of Paul Reinhart and John Ramage, son of Rob Ramage. J. Ramage played just one game with the Flames, while M. Reinhart played just 23 games with the Flames. Let’s hope that Nylander gets in more games than that.
Cynthia Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFO Calgary, DFO Edmonton, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @CynthiaRDelaney.
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Calgary FlamesTeam Cap Summary
Cap Summary
2026-27
2027-28
Projected Cap Hit
$90,091,666
$70,041,666
Projected Cap Space
$13,908,334
$43,458,334
Current Cap Space
$13,908,334
$43,458,334
Active Players
23/23
16/23
Draft Picks
Round
'27
'28
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1
1
2
2
2
3
2
1