Blackhawks trade Nylander to Penguins for Lafferty

The Chicago Blackhawks traded forward Alex Nylander to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Sam Lafferty, the teams announced Wednesday.

Alex, son of longtime NHLer Michael Nylander and younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander, hasn't appeared in an NHL game since March 2020. He missed all of 2020-21 with a torn meniscus and has played exclusively with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs this season, recording eight goals and four assists in 23 contests.

The 23-year-old has tallied 13 goals and 19 assists in 84 career NHL games split between the Sabres and Blackhawks. Buffalo selected him eighth overall in 2016.

Nylander has one year left on his contract with an $874,125 cap hit and will be a restricted free agent at season's end, according to CapFriendly. He'll report to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Lafferty, 26, has 21 points in 94 career NHL games across three seasons with the Penguins, primarily in fourth-line minutes.

"Hardworking role player," an Eastern Conference scout told NBC's Charlie Roumeliotis of Lafferty. "Can play in the middle or wing. Above-average size and plus skating. Competitive and provides energy."

Lafferty, a fourth-round pick of the Pens in 2014, carries a $750,000 cap hit and is in the final year of his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

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