Nylander brothers set to be broken up as Maple Leafs get healthy

It was a feel-good story last month when the Maple Leafs signed William Nylander's brother Alex to a one-year deal.

It was the first time the Nylander brothers were able to play together on the same team in an NHL game.

Unfortunately, things have not gone as planned though. Alex was always meant to be a temporary solution, but he really has not shown much in his short stint with the team.

Through five games, he has zero points, four penalty minutes, and is a -1. Leafs fans are tired of it.

Unfortunately, as many fans have pointed out, he simply is not quite an NHL-caliber player.

He is a 'tweener' player at best, but generally speaking, he is a career top-six AHL forward.

The Leafs signed him to an NHL contract mid-season after he started with the Marlies specifically because the team was dealing with a host of injuries.

Auston Matthews, Max Pacioretty, Max Domi, and Bobby McMann have all been out in recent weeks just to name a few.

Now that these players are starting to return, it seems inevitable that Nylander will be waived to be re-assigned to the Marlies in the coming days.

According to Bob McKenzie, the team is expected to get Pacioretty, Domi, and McMann back all within the next week, pushing Alex out of the lineup.

Max Pacioretty - Sat Dec 7 @ Penguins
Max Domi, Jake McCabe - Tues Dec 10 @ Devils
Bobby McMann - Thurs Dec 12 vs Ducks

It may not have gone the way we had hoped for, but at least the brothers will always have the memory of playing together in the NHL, on the same team.