"I loved his jump," Taylor said. "I loved his compete level when we did some three-on-three and five-on-five battles.

"He just looks a little more mature. He looks a little bigger. Everything about him, he looks confident in what he's doing and how he's handling himself."

Though still listed at 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, Nylander looks (and says) he's bigger and stronger. If so, that would erase a major roadblock in his NHL path.

The other obstacle was his intensity. Blessed with great skill, the youngster struggled to compete with the older pros in the American Hockey League. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft disappeared for stretches.

"Now I've played one year pro," he said. "I feel a lot better and more experienced. I know what to do now to get to the next level."

Fellow prospect Justin Bailey knows one year can make a difference. He got eight games with the Sabres in 2015-16. He stuck around for 32 last season.

"Anytime you get a year of pro under your belt, it forces you to mature very quickly," Bailey said. "Looking back at my first year of pro, the first 15 or 20 games were an eye-opener. I think it was the same for him.