Nylander grew up always playing for Sorensen, whether it was ice hockey for the Chicago Mission or knee hockey in Sorensen’s basement. Now, the lifelong friends are reunited in the Hawks’ organization.

Alex Nylander comes from a family robust with NHL connections.

There’s his father, Michael Nylander, a veteran of 17 NHL seasons, including parts of four with the Blackhawks. There’s his older brother, William Nylander, one of the key members of the Maple Leafs’ young core.

And there’s Anders Sorensen.

“He’s like family to me,” Alex Nylander told the Sun-Times this week. “As a kid, [I remember] him telling how he was when he played and stuff like that. He was just giving us everything he knows … for me and my brother to grow as hockey players.”

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