Former NHLer Michael Nylander joins OHL's Steelheads as assistant coach

Former NHLer Michael Nylander joined the Ontario Hockey League's Mississauga Steelheads as an assistant coach on Sunday.

The Steelheads announced the move on their Twitter account prior to a pre-season matchup against the Kitchener Rangers.

Nylander spent 15 seasons in the NHL with the Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. In 920 career games, the 42-year-old scored 209 goals and 679 points.

The hiring comes a day after Mississauga received a commitment from Nylander's son Alexander to join the team. Alexander was the team's first round pick at the 2015 CHL import draft.

Alexander's brother William was the eighth overall pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2014 NHL draft. William joined the Maple Leafs organization in January and spent the rest of this past season with their AHL affiliate, the Marlies.