Calgary Flames just stole a key player from the Maple Leafs' championship team

The Toronto Maple Leafs are losing a foundational player on a championship team.

Of course, the only hockey championship we have known for some time in Toronto is the Calder Cup, and the Marlies have lost a very important player for them.

According to multiple reports, the Calgary Flames are signing winger Alex Nylander to a professional try-out and he will be attending training camp next month.

The 28-year-old forward is going to try out his luck to get an NHL comeback, and he certainly has the right, but now the Flames are stealing away what could be a very solid player as the Marlies look to make it back-to-back Calder Cup championships.

Nylander was a vital part of the Marlies

Nylander was not under contract with the Maple Leafs organization and has been an unrestricted free agent since July 1. So, even if he did not sign this PTO with the Flames, it's not a guarantee that he would have been on the Marlies. But considering his brother William (that guy, over there) is still ripping it up in Toronto, and we thank him for it, we could have at least seen another AHL-only contract for the younger brother.

Regardless, Nylander was such a key player for the Marlies last season.

In the two seasons Nylander has played in Toronto, mainly to be with his brother and get a little bit of that shine, he was a very consistent scorer who the team could lean on as their younger prospects developed under him. Just this last season, Nylander scored 24 goals and 53 points in 65 games. Only Logan Shaw scored more points than him (54) and that was in seven more games.

And of course, his time in Toronto was capped off with winning the Calder Cup and bringing some actual hockey glory to this city.

Nylander may have a chance to be back in the NHL

Aside from literally being unemployed and without a contract for the 2026-27 hockey season, the reason why Nylander is heading to Calgary on a PTO is obvious. The Flames are projected to be one of the worst teams in the NHL next season. Their forward group might be the worst of all 32 teams (since the Vancouver Canucks still at least have some talent up top), which should automatically mean some jobs are up for grabs.

Sure, maybe someone with an actual NHL contract with the Flames could have an upper hand on Nylander, but if the journeyman winger shows off a little bit, he could get a contract out of training camp and at the very least be a call-up option as he scores so many points for the AHL Wranglers.

Here's to you, Alex. You got to hang out with your brother in the same city and play hockey professionally.

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