The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into a critical stretch of their season without one of their biggest offensive weapons. William Nylander will miss Saturday’s matchup against the Winnipeg Jets and is considered doubtful for Monday’s game against the Minnesota Wild as he continues to deal with a lower-body injury.
Nylander aggravated the injury during Thursday night’s tilt against the Vegas Golden Knights. It’s the same issue that kept him out of six games earlier this season, originally sustained on December 27 against the Ottawa Senators. After returning to the lineup on January 10 against the Vancouver Canucks, it looked like he was back to full speed - but that return may have come a little too soon.
Following Friday’s practice, head coach Craig Berube confirmed Nylander’s status as doubtful and offered some candid insight into the uncertainty surrounding the timeline.
“He is still getting evaluated,” Berube said. “That’s a good question.
I can’t answer that. With the last one, I thought it would be quicker, and it obviously wasn’t.
We’ll just see how he feels going forward.”
That uncertainty is tough news for a Leafs team that’s already walking a tightrope in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Nylander has been Toronto’s most consistent offensive force this season, leading the team with 48 points (17 goals, 31 assists) in just 37 games. He’s not just producing - he’s driving play, creating chances, and often setting the tone for the Leafs’ top six.
Without him, the Leafs lose their most dynamic playmaker - the guy who can change a game with a single shift. And with the team already battling through inconsistency earlier in the year, the timing couldn’t be worse.
Stepping into Nylander’s spot is Jacob Quillan, who’s expected to draw into the lineup. The 23-year-old has seen limited NHL action so far, going pointless in three games with the Leafs.
But he’s been making noise in the AHL, putting up eight goals and 27 points in 28 games for the Toronto Marlies. The question now is whether that production can translate to the big stage - and whether he can help fill even part of the void left by Nylander.
Toronto’s upcoming schedule doesn’t offer much breathing room. After wrapping up their road trip, the Leafs face a gauntlet of opponents: Minnesota, Detroit, Vegas, Colorado, and Buffalo. That’s a five-game stretch loaded with playoff-caliber teams, and it’ll be a serious test of Toronto’s depth and resilience.
The Leafs have managed to generate offense consistently this season, but Nylander has been the engine behind much of that success. Without him, others will need to step up - whether it’s Auston Matthews taking on an even bigger role, Mitch Marner rediscovering his scoring touch, or someone unexpected emerging from the bottom six.
For now, the Leafs are in wait-and-see mode with Nylander. But make no mistake - if he’s sidelined for an extended stretch, Toronto’s path to the postseason just got a whole lot steeper.