The Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up for a pivotal five-game homestand, but they’ll be doing it shorthanded-at least to start. William Nylander is officially out, and Matthew Knies remains a game-time decision, leaving the Leafs without two key top-six forwards as they host the Minnesota Wild on Monday night.
Nylander’s absence isn’t a surprise. He’s been sidelined the past few days with a groin injury and didn’t participate in the morning skate.
Knies, meanwhile, is dealing with a lingering lower-body issue that’s been nagging him for weeks. Head coach Craig Berube acknowledged it’s been a persistent problem-one that dates back to the three games Knies missed in late November.
“It’s obviously been bothering him a lot for quite some time,” Berube said. “It hasn’t been getting a lot better, other than when he gets some breaks, like Christmas. But it’s an ongoing issue.”
That issue has clearly impacted Knies’ game. He’s managed just one goal in nine games this month and was recently bumped off the top line in favor of Bobby McMann. Now, with both Nylander and possibly Knies out, the Leafs are making adjustments.
Toronto called up Jacob Quillan from the AHL on Monday morning, and Berube has already shuffled the deck. Scott Laughton, typically a center, has been moved up to the second-line left wing alongside John Tavares and Matias Maccelli.
If Knies can’t go, Quillan is expected to center the fourth line with Steven Lorentz and Calle Järnkrok. Berube also hinted that the second line could see more tweaking if Laughton doesn’t settle into the role.
This isn’t an ideal scenario for a team trying to keep pace in a logjammed Eastern Conference playoff race. Despite a strong 7-1-2 run since December 30, the Leafs still find themselves on the outside looking in, a testament to how tight the standings are this season.
And the schedule isn’t doing them any favors. All five teams coming into Scotiabank Arena during this stretch are currently in playoff position. That means every point is going to matter, and Toronto will need to find ways to generate offense without two of their most dynamic forwards.
Still, there’s optimism in the locker room. After a 2-1-1 road trip, the Leafs are looking forward to the comfort of home ice.
“We’re feeling good about the energy this place has had,” McMann said. “We’ve had an extended road trip we had to battle through, but it feels nice to be in that one spot and get that familiarity of being at home.”
The Leafs have shown they can adapt, and they’ll need to do it again-quickly. With the playoff race heating up, every shift, every line change, and every injury recovery could be the difference between playing in April or watching from the sidelines.