Alex Nylander Sidelined 4-6 Months After Undergoing Knee Surgery

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that Alexander Nylander will be out four to six months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Nylander apparently suffered the injury during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He tried to work his way back slowly, but recurring symptoms forced the decision to undergo surgery on Monday.

Last season, Nylander posted 26 points (ten goals, 16 assists) while averaging 12:08 TOI over 65 games. Though he has shown flashes of top-notch offensive ability, his inconsistency and lack of attention to details landed him in Jeremy Colliton’s doghouse fairly frequently.

Nylander’s four- to six-month recovery timeline means that he very well could miss the entire 2021 NHL season. Even if he did return to the ice, it would not be until the tail end of the regular season. These developments mean that a group of young forwards will have an extra lineup spot to fight for during training camp. Pius Suter, Brandon Hagel, Brandon Pirri, Philipp Kurashev, MacKenzie Entwistle, and a few other names could be candidates to fill the void when the Blackhawks hit the ice in January.