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Sabres loan Nylander to Sweden for World Juniors

2016 NHL Draft - Round One

BUFFALO, NY - JUNE 24: Alexander Nylander gives an inteview after being selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres during round one of the 2016 NHL Draft on June 24, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Jen Fuller/Getty Images)

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Sweden’s entry into the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship received a huge boost on Tuesday, as Buffalo announced it would allow Alex Nylander to participate.

Nylander, taken eighth overall by the Sabres at this year’s draft, nearly made the team out of training camp this fall and has fared extremely well in his first AHL campaign, scoring 17 points in 29 games for the Buffalo’s minor-league affiliate, the Amerks.

The 18-year-old is among the top-20 rookie scorers in the AHL this season.

Landing Nylander is, as mentioned above, a huge step forward for Sweden’s chances of winning this tournament. He’s that dynamic a player. Last year, he led Team Sweden with four goals and nine points in just seven games, en route to a fourth-place finish.