Penguins reassign former first-round pick Alexander Nylander

According to a team release, the Pittsburgh Penguins sent forward Alexander Nylander down to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Monday.

Nylander, 25, heads back to the minors after sitting as a healthy scratch for eight straight games. He’s one of Pittsburgh’s best recall options out of their relatively thin depth in the AHL but was a week away from requiring waivers to head back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Pittsburgh remains locked into a tight battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference as it looks to keep its 16-year postseason streak alive. That steak is by far the longest in the league. With salary cap constraints, though, the Penguins are forced to carry a trim roster, having less than $100,000 in space before returning Nylander to the minors.

The eighth-overall pick in 2016 is having by far his best season in the AHL, leading the team in goals and points per game. His 25 goals and 25 assists in 54 games have given him his first 50-point season, marking another step in a long road back to potential NHL relevancy after an injury-plagued development period.

He could remain a lineup option for the Penguins in the playoffs if they make it there. He has one assist in six games this season with Pittsburgh, his first NHL point since the 2019-20 season.