Leo Roth

@leoroth

Alex Nylander kept his streak alive Thursday.

Not a scoring streak, a work-ethic streak. Among the first on the ice at Bills Gray’s Iceplex where the Rochester Americans held a morning practice, among the last off.

“It’s a process and it takes time but his work-ethic is second to none,’’ said Randy Cunneyworth, player development coach for the parent Buffalo Sabres who was looking on. “You watch every practice and he’s always working on his shooting, passing, handling the puck. That’s what it’s about — putting the time in and he’s very willing.’’

When it comes to an athlete reaching his full potential, it’s the willing that makes the able. And Alex Nylander, son of longtime NHL center Michael Nylander, is certainly able.

The Sabres’ first-round draft pick, the No. 8 overall selection in last June’s NHL Draft, is settling back into the Amerks’ lineup after leading Team Sweden to a fourth-place finish in the prestigious World Junior U-20 Championship in Montreal where he finished tied for the tournament’s scoring lead with 12 points (five goals, two assists) in seven games.

Doing so at 18 years old.

While many high school seniors are making plans for spring break and filling out college applications, Nylander is continuing his hockey education in the American Hockey League with plans to graduate to the NHL.

With 17 points (5-12) in 30 games heading into Friday’s showdown with first-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Blue Cross Arena at the Community War Memorial, Nylander is right on course. He scored his first professional point in his first pro game, his first goal in his third, his first multi-point game in his 11th. And the beat goes on.

“I feel really good, just trying to play the same way I did in the World Juniors and it’s feeling really good now, I just have to keep it up,’’ Nylander said. “They have a plan for me and I feel it’s working well, allowing me to get better so I can take the next step. I’m just trying to get the right things accomplished down here, playing as well as I can every game and hoping to get called up. Of course, I need to play well here and we need to win games here.’’

For hockey fans who have yet to see Nylander, the best advice is hurry up.

While a player such as Buffalo’s Jack Eichel playing in the NHL as a teenager last year was rare, it’s also rare to see a teenager in the AHL, hockey’s top development league.

No. 19 with the classic blonde hockey flow skates like Ali shuffled, handles the stick like Jordan dribbled and shoots like Aaron swung. Putting it mildly, the kid is just plain fun to watch.

“He’s high caliber, obviously the tournament helped his confidence and allowed him to gauge where he’s exactly at,’’ said Cunneyworth, an Amerks Hall of Fame coach. “He’s developing, getting stronger and following the process. The mere fact you’re competing against guys older, bigger, stronger (in the AHL) and you can dangle out there and get the scoring looks, it lets us know he can handle it.’’

Amerks coach Dan Lambert is enjoying the opportunity to work with a prospect of Nylander’s status, and uses him in all situations, even the point on the power play. On a few occasions he has had to sit his prodigy, smile and say, “Alex, what the heck are you doing out there?’’

But a little tough love never hurt anyone.

“For him to play in the World Junior Championships was a great experience and the fact he led that tournament in scoring speaks for itself,’’ Lambert said. “The fact he’s got tons of skill and tons of potential, we’re trying to make sure he reaches the max. At the end of day, he has the skill level to play in the NHL, it’s everything else around the game that he needs to get better at, the consistency.’’

That’s shift to shift, game to game and month to month. Nylander is a minus-11 so, like most young players, play in his own end is on his to-do list. But awareness is 90 percent of the battle.

“Defense is a mindset,’’ Lambert said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, if you are able to skate, you are able to defend. The best players in the world in today’s game they all defend very well. Part of his growth is to become better in his own end but to not lose that creativity in his game.’’

In Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack, Nylander was a minus-1 with no shots. But he made several nice plays and showed good hustle on his back check. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a two-way hockey player.

“I’m trying to get better as an all-around player, for sure,’’ he said.

This isn’t the first Nylander to pass through Rochester.

While a member of the Florida Panthers organization, Michael Nylander played seven games for the Amerks (4-2 – 6) until suffering a broken neck against Grand Rapids on Oct, 23, 2010 on a vicious hit from behind by Brendan Smith.

Michael, who logged 920 NHL games for eight teams and four times scored 23 or more goals for the Blackhawks and Rangers, underwent successful spinal fusion surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital. He played one more year and retired just shy of 40.

Alex was 12 and living in Chicago with his family and remembers that night.

“We were listening to the game on radio and we got the call,’’ he said. “I remember my mom being very upset. It was very scary but he had the surgery and we were very fortunate. It could’ve been a lot worse. Today he can play hockey and do whatever he wants — he’s just not as fast anymore.’’

But he’s fast with advice and lots of love and support. Michael Nylander is an assistant coach for Mississauga of the Ontario Hockey League where last season Alex lit things up with 75 points (28-47) in 57 games following a 40-point year for an elite Swedish junior team.

In addition to Alex, the Nylander hockey gene was passed on to brother William Nylander, 20, who was also a No. 8 overall draft pick and plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs. William assisted on two of Auston Matthews four goals in Matthews’ NHL debut.

“When I was younger I could play any sport I wanted but it wasn’t too hard to pick hockey for me and my brother,’’ Alex said. “Our dad has given us a lot of help and advice; he knows what it takes to get to the NHL, so we just try and listen. He pushes me, he pushes my brother and we’re both just trying to get better every day.’’

The Nylander brothers faced each other in two preseason NHL games, a split. It is now little brother’s goal to hear the cheers of Sabres fans in a regular-season game as he did on draft day held at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center.

The Sabres rebuilding project has seen the likes of Sam Reinhart, Eichel and Nylander come aboard when they were still not yet old enough to order a beer. But young blood offers the chance for a winning team with staying power.

“It was a surreal moment when Buffalo called my name, the home crowd cheering,’’ Alex said. “It’s a great organization I believe with lots of talent. I’m just focused on playing well here (Rochester) and hopefully earning a call-up. I try and get better every day.’’

His work-ethic streak is alive and well. Alexander keeps striving to be great.

Game night

What: Rochester Americans vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Amerks lost 4-1 in only previous meeting this season on Dec. 16, 2016.

When, where: 7:05 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, Blue Cross Arena and Community War Memorial. Radio 95.7 FM and 950AM.

Tickets: $12 to $26, arena box office and Ticketmaster.