On Thursday, the Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Montreal Canadiens in their third preseason game. While those playing took to the ice in the evening, the non-playing squad held practice in the afternoon and their was another noticeable absence from the team’s gathering – William Nylander.
Nylander joins a list of Maple Leafs’ who’ve already missed some time during training camp that includes Nicolas Roy, Max Domi and Simon Benoit. While there wasn’t a specific update to why Nylander was absent, head coach Craig Berube did weather the storm – noting that it was simply a maintenance-type of day off for the star forward.
“Just maintenance,” Berube said. “Camp kind of stuff. Get a little banged up, but he’s fine.”
Thus far, Nylander has been practicing and playing on a line with his usual centre in John Tavares. His other linemate still might be up in the air as of now, but Bobby McMann is making a case to play alongside the two on the Maple Leafs’ second line this season.
As for Nylander, don’t expect him to miss much time. The forward has played 80-plus games in each of the last four seasons, with three straight 40-goal seasons. He will be a major piece for the Maple Leafs this season with the loss of Mitch Marner.
There is no timeline for Nylander’s return, albeit he seems to be day-to-day. As for the other injured Maple Leafs players, both Domi and Roy are back skating with Benoit remaining as the only player who still hasn’t skated with the team.
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That said, his return to the lineup seems likely prior to puck drop for the regular season, when the Maple Leafs kick the year off on Oct. 8 against the Canadiens.
