Alex Nylander

[ChiHawks10]

Only Kane can be sucking when he has 4 points in 4 games. But from the eye test (and metrics), he absolutely has not been good at all. Just speaks to his talent though.

Also have to take into account that 3 of those 4 points came in one game. He had 0 points in 2 games, and 4 points in 2 games... Yes, the eye test, and the advanced stats both say Kane has been indefensibly awful.

 

[BK]

I couldn't think of a single good action or even shift Nylander had in these playoffs but he turns over pucks on a regular basis and his play against the puck is awful, too. Anyone on the roster could do better. Nylander is brutal. All other players are serving some kind of a purpose. Even Caggiula. Nylander doesn't.

If this is what you think you haven’t watched all or you are just ignoring good plays. Plain and simple.

 

[Hinterland]

If this is what you think you haven’t watched all or you are just ignoring good plays. Plain and simple.

You should change your title to Nylander apologist. There's zero reason why Nylander should even be on an NHL roster. He surely wouldn't be elsewhere. He's brutal and every single shift is a pain to watch as all promising plays die on his stick. He never produced at pro level and he's useless on checking lines, too because he's soft and terrible against the puck.

 

[Hinterland]

Lol. Toews had a few good games against a terrible Edmonton team. He has been invisible this series. Kane has been absolute trash in both these series.

What does "Numbers are worth nothing without context" even mean?

The context says Kane Toews, and Saad have been awful outside of a few games against the Oilers, and they're pretty much the reason why we're not leading this series against Vegas. Along with Crow and his Charmin soft goals that break this team's back any time they have any momentum.

I agree re Kane but Toews has been pretty good while Saad may even have been the best forward until now. Had his stick in a lot of important goals and has been excellent defensively. He's playing with a purpose while Nylander is just floating around.

 

[Kaners Bald Spot]

BTW, I wouldn't blame Bowman if he bailed on Nylander, and I wouldn't blame Bowman if he waited a bit longer either. He did a good job bailing on Perlini. Win some, Lose some. In reality, Nylander is meh. He's just not this horrible beer leaguer like you guys make him out to be.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

BTW, I wouldn't blame Bowman if he bailed on Nylander, and I wouldn't blame Bowman if he waited a bit longer either. He did a good job bailing on Perlini. Win some, Lose some. In reality, Nylander is meh. He's just not this horrible beer leaguer like you guys make him out to be.

If you think he’s just meh, why do you defend him so hard?

 

[Kaners Bald Spot]

If you think he’s just meh, why do you defend him so hard?

Because I think that he gets a ton of unfair criticism from the fanbase. There are much bigger fish to fry with this roster. He's been scapegoated. If his name wasn't Nylander and he wasn't a former top 10 pick he wouldn't get as much hate.

 

[ChiHawk21]

Nylander is used to being the most talented player on his line so maybe they should play him on the 4th line consistently until he gets some confidence back offensively. Maybe move Highmore up to the 3rd line and drop Nylander to the 4th line. Highmore has earned more minutes.

he hasnt been the best player on his line since juniors

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Because I think that he gets a ton of unfair criticism from the fanbase. There are much bigger fish to fry with this roster. He's been scapegoated. If his name wasn't Nylander and he wasn't a former top 10 pick he wouldn't get as much hate.

I mean, you’ve basically called him to the next Teravainen. That’s above and beyond just saying guys are going overboard with criticism.

 

[ChiHawk21]

Because I think that he gets a ton of unfair criticism from the fanbase. There are much bigger fish to fry with this roster. He's been scapegoated. If his name wasn't Nylander and he wasn't a former top 10 pick he wouldn't get as much hate.

he wouldnt be in the lineup if his last name wasnt nylander and he wasnt a top 10 pick. if he plays exactly like is is right now and was a 6th rounder for the hawks in 2016 he wouldnt be in the lineup. hes a minus 2 with 3 shots in 4 games. only forward without a point in the playoffs -4 and the eye test shows it as well.

 

[Kaners Bald Spot]

I mean, you’ve basically called him to the next Teravainen. That’s above and beyond just saying guys are going overboard with criticism.

That's just me being(probably overly) optimistic.

The comparison has nothing to do with skillsets and everything to do with production/age similarities and unfair criticism from the fanbase. They're different players. I don't think Nylander ever gets as good as TT is but if you squint you can see a 55 pt two way forward in there. It's all about whether or not the game slows down for him. You can tell he's thinking too much out there.

If they bail on Nylander they could be making the same mistake they did with TT. Honestly I could take it or leave it. If he goes on to have a productive career elsewhere, meh. Just like TT. At the same age, TT had 0.45 ppg and Nylander had 0.40. That's where the comparison lies, and that's where it ends.

I don't really care about TT figuring it out elsewhere. Same if they bailed on Nylander and he figured it out elsewhere. I'd chalk it up to "It wouldn't have happened here" and move on.

 

[ChiHawk21]

its time to put someone else in for him and try it again next season with a full offseason or unload him while there still a glimmer of hope. he doesnt have it right now.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

I kind of want the Hawks to turn Nylander into the best north/south bottom 6 2 way forward they can...I just don't see the offensive game with him at all but he has the tools to carve out a nice role as a bottom 6 guy that can help this team win games...but he needs to play with players that force him to simplify his game, carpenter and kampf do that for him...he just can't create consistently at the nhl level, maybe that comes with time but seems unlikely.

 

[LordKOTL]

BTW, I wouldn't blame Bowman if he bailed on Nylander, and I wouldn't blame Bowman if he waited a bit longer either. He did a good job bailing on Perlini. Win some, Lose some. In reality, Nylander is meh. He's just not this horrible beer leaguer like you guys make him out to be.

For everyone touting his "Talent", he's certainly not playing like it. He's either not that talented, or is a floater and needs a heart transplant. To me that's a major issue--as I said before I'd rather have a player with low talent and high effort than high talent and low effort--and so far that's Nylander. Say what you will about Caligula, Kampf, Highmore, and Carpenter, but at least the go out there and play like they mean it.

(and yes, I know Nylander isn't the only one with those issues this postseason)

The major deeper issue I have with him is: where does he fit? He's not played good enough for top-6, and he hasn't shown the drive for the bottom-6. So...where do we slot him?

 

[Toews2Bickell]

For everyone touting his "Talent", he's certainly not playing like it. He's either not that talented, or is a floater and needs a heart transplant. To me that's a major issue--as I said before I'd rather have a player with low talent and high effort than high talent and low effort--and so far that's Nylander. Say what you will about Caligula, Kampf, Highmore, and Carpenter, but at least the go out there and play like they mean it.

(and yes, I know Nylander isn't the only one with those issues this postseason)

The major deeper issue I have with him is: where does he fit? He's not played good enough for top-6, and he hasn't shown the drive for the bottom-6. So...where do we slot him?

The thing about Nylander is he never seems to have any impressive offensive sequences either...He can't create off the rush, he has no cycle game...He doesn't really create with his shot...I know he had close to 30 points but he just never stands out...You'd expect to see flashes with a top 10 pick...Like pre-covid Dach you'd see the flashes, or Boqvist...just not there with Nylander...For how much shit Strome gets and how much rope Nylander gets it makes absolutely zero sense other than people feel obligated to because they traded Jokiharju for him and want to feel right about that deal...I'd take Jokiharju back at this point...

 

[ChiHawks10]

The thing about Nylander is he never seems to have any impressive offensive sequences either...He can't create off the rush, he has no cycle game...He doesn't really create with his shot...I know he had close to 30 points but he just never stands out...You'd expect to see flashes with a top 10 pick...Like pre-covid Dach you'd see the flashes, or Boqvist...just not there with Nylander...For how much shit Strome gets and how much rope Nylander gets it makes absolutely zero sense other than people feel obligated to because they traded Jokiharju for him and want to feel right about that deal...I'd take Jokiharju back at this point

Strome gets the shit he gets because of Musto. I'd say about 75% of it is to antagonize the shit out of him, and nothing more. Which is why he threw the Cat bitch fest tantrum the last day or two.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Strome gets the shit he gets because of Musto. I'd say about 75% of it is to antagonize the shit out of him, and nothing more. Which is why he threw the Cat bitch fest tantrum the last day or two.

Probably partially true, some geniune dislike for Strome, but Strome's production is what people thought Nylander could bring...its comical at this point the leeway Nylander gets...he's played pro hockey for 3 or 4 years now, Strome was a ppg player in AHL and has produced ar like .7 since his trade to Chicago...Nylander's NHL production mirrors his AHL production

 

[Kaners Bald Spot]

It seems that we're having the same discussion we had last summer about Perlini.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

It seems that we're having the same discussion we had last summer about Perlini.

all the tools but no tool kit

 

[BK]

all the tools but no tool kit

Except for he does.

 

[giza]

Seems to be fighting it out there----unsure what to do, unsure how to leverage what he does best----certainly I didn't see him putting himself in the best place to score, but space and time are limited against these guys.

 

[BobbyJet]

I kind of want the Hawks to turn Nylander into the best north/south bottom 6 2 way forward they can...I just don't see the offensive game with him at all but he has the tools to carve out a nice role as a bottom 6 guy that can help this team win games...but he needs to play with players that force him to simplify his game, carpenter and kampf do that for him...he just can't create consistently at the nhl level, maybe that comes with time but seems unlikely.

I do agree he has the wheels to get where he needs to be in a bottom-6 role but that's not nearly enough. It's what he does when he arrives at the puck that is his issue and I don't see that improving much. He looks to me like a player who has handed everything to him in his life and he has been given the same treatment in Chicago. He is hurting the team.

 

[hawksrule]

Given Nylander's tools, flashes of talent, and pedigree, you have to give him one more full season before judging. If he shows no progress at that point, fine, but there's no urgency to cut bait.

 

[BobbyJet]

Given Nylander's tools, flashes of talent, and pedigree, you have to give him one more full season before judging. If he shows no progress at that point, fine, but there's no urgency to cut bait.

I agree but he should be sitting right now.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Given Nylander's tools, flashes of talent, and pedigree, you have to give him one more full season before judging. If he shows no progress at that point, fine, but there's no urgency to cut bait.

He gets one more season by default given the asset they moved to acquire him...Just think it's time to start thinking about molding him into the player that can help them win games and not chase the player he was drafted to be...