Kevin Oklobzija

@kevinoDandC

Week one in pro hockey has come and gone for Alex Nylander.

So far, so good.

Oh, he didn't electrify on every shift for the Rochester Americans. And he wasn't a scoring threat every time he gained possession of the puck in the offensive zone.

But despite being only 18 and playing against players that in some cases have a decade more of pro experience, the rookie winger was very much at home in the American Hockey League.

"I just play the same way I always have, I just try to play my game," Nylander said after practice Thursday, when the Amerks prepared for weekend games against the Toronto Marlies (Friday on home ice) and the Binghamton Senators (on the road Saturday).

Nylander had an assist on the Amerks' first goal of the season, just 45 seconds after puck drop in the opener, and then scored his first professional goal and assisted on another on Sunday. Three games, three points.

By comparison — and what the numbers mean can be dissected any number of ways — his older brother, William, had one assist through three games when he debuted in North American pro hockey with the Marlies in January 2015 at age 18.

But Amerks coach Dan Lambert isn't measuring Nylander's progress with statistics. When the Buffalo Sabres selected the darting, slick-shooting forward with the eighth overall pick in the NHL draft in June, they knew all about his skill set. They now need to see him develop an all-around game.

He played with the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League last season, producing 28 goals, 47 assists and 75 points in 57 games. He also had 6-6-12 in eight playoff games.

"For his first weekend of pro hockey, he made a lot of plays that were high skilled, that not a lot of players can make at this level, or in hockey period," Lambert said.

"But in junior, when you're that skilled, you're not told how to play in your own end, so his habits and details have to get better."

That's why Lambert and his staff are paying very close attention to what happens in practice. Lambert said Nylander had a great week.

"He wants to learn, he wants to be a player."

That Nylander is even eligible to play for the Amerks is a little unusual, since he's only 18 and was drafted from an OHL team. Canada's three major junior leagues (OHL, Quebec, Western) have an agreement with the NHL that basically prohibits players from playing in the AHL until they turn 20 or have played four full junior seasons.

► Meet the Amerks

Nylander, however, is allowed to play for the Amerks because he actually was under contract to a team in the Swedish league and then was loaned to Mississauga last season. That meant he was technically drafted out of Europe, and there is no rule prohibiting such players from playing in the AHL.

"In his scenario, this is the best fit," said Lambert, who two years ago was coaching . "He belongs here, he can play here. There's some good leaders in our room that he can learn from."

Nylander said he knew going into training camp that he would either stay with the Sabres or be assigned to Rochester. Returning to the OHL was never going to be an option.

"I think it's good for me to play against men," he said.

The agreement between the NHL and CHL is set up to protect the quality of the major junior leagues. In most cases, it's a fair rule. But there are often exceptions. The Sabres believed Mikhail Grigorenko's development would have been best served if he was allowed to play in the AHL in 2013-14 when he was 19. Drafted 12th overall in 2012, he was required to return to the Quebec Remparts if he wasn't on the Sabres roster.

Lambert understands both sides of the rule. When he was coaching the Kelowna Rockets to WHL title in 2014-15, his roster included Leon Draisaitl (the third overall pick in the 2014 draft by Edmonton) and, following a mid-season trade, Josh Morrissey (selected 13th overall in 2013 by Winnipeg).

Without the agreement, he figures neither player would have been with him.

"Teams would make a case for their first pick every year," Lambert said. "Twenty-five out of 30 would be in pro hockey every year, and now you're really hurting the junior leagues)."

KEVINO@gannett.com

Hockey night

The matchup: Amerks vs. Toronto Marlies (affiliate of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs).

Time/place: 7:05 p.m. Friday/Blue Cross Arena at the Community War Memorial.

Tickets: $14, $18, $22, $24, $26, $28.

Records: Amerks are 1-2 and have been outscored 14-9. The Marlies are 2-0 and outscored the opposition 10-4.

Amerks update: Center Jean Dupuy (upper body) and winger Vaclav Karabacek (lower body) remain out. Left winger Cole Schneider (unspecified) is probable.

Radio: ESPN Rochester (950 AM, 95.7 FM).