The Toronto Maple Leafs are awaiting updates on the status of forward William Nylander after he left Friday night's game against the Buffalo Sabres with an injury. The incident occurred late in the third period of the Leafs' 5-3 loss, adding to the team's woes as they dropped their third straight game.
Nylander departed the game with 5:51 remaining in the third period and did not return. He was seen skating slowly to the bench after taking a hit to the mid-section from Sabres forward Jason Zucker. While the hit itself didn't appear overly dangerous, Nylander seemed shaken up. It was also noted that while falling, Nylander's knee may have collided with Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.
Head coach Craig Berube addressed the media post-game, stating that Nylander would undergo further evaluation. He remained uncertain about Nylander's availability for Saturday's game against the Sabres, the latter half of a home-and-home series. Berube stated, "Could he possibly play? Maybe… Got to see tomorrow".
Prior to his exit, Nylander had contributed a goal and logged 17:39 of ice time. He also leads the Leafs with 11 assists and 14 points this season. His absence was noticeable during the Maple Leafs' two late power-play opportunities.
Nylander had been playing on the top line with Auston Matthews. The Maple Leafs are already dealing with injuries to defensemen Chris Tanev, who is on injured reserve, and Morgan Rielly, whose status remains uncertain. Losing Nylander would be a significant blow to the team, especially as they hoped his playmaking ability would help spark Matthews' goal-scoring.
The Maple Leafs built their roster this year with the intention of handling injuries, incorporating more depth and lineup flexibility. However, the potential absence of a player as crucial as Nylander, combined with the other injuries, may force General Manager Brad Treliving to seek a top-six forward to stabilize the offense.
Throughout the past four seasons, Nylander has been remarkably reliable, missing only one game. His consistency and scoring touch have been vital assets for Toronto.
The Maple Leafs currently sit fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 3-4-1 record.
