Sabres assign Alex Nylander to Sweden’s world junior team

World-Juniors

Sweden's Alexander Nylander (19) celebrates after scoring against Denmark goaltender Lasse Petersen (30). (Graham Hughes/CP)

Sweden got a huge boost on Wednesday night when the Buffalo Sabres assigned forward Alex Nylander to the country’s world junior championship team.

The 19-year-old was playing for Buffalo’s AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, where he had two goals and four assists in 15 games.

“This is a tremendous chance for Alex to play for his country at the upcoming tournament,” Sabres GM Jason Botterill said in a release. “The world junior championship is a prestigious and challenging tournament that we are so excited to be hosting here in Buffalo. This opportunity will provide another important step in Alex’s development.”

Nylander has been dynamite for the Swedes in the last two world juniors and tied for the tournament lead with 12 points in seven games during last year’s tournament.

The Sabres drafted Nylander eighth overall in the 2016 NHL Draft.

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