Multiple Injury Updates for the Toronto Maple Leafs

The NHL Playoffs are near, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are getting healthier.

On May 14th, the Toronto Maple Leafs will play the Winnipeg Jets. It is their last regular-season game of the 2020-2021 NHL season. Toronto clinched a playoff spot and is close to clinching the Scotia North Division title.

Luckily for head coach Sheldon Keefe, familiar names (and one new one) are almost ready to return to the team. One player will sit a couple of games, and another thankfully can play through their injury.

The Leafs acquired forward Nick Foligno before the trade deadline, and it paid off so far. The winger spent time on the top line, racking up four assists in five games. He also made 15 hits, adding the physical presence the team needed.

Toronto Maple Leafs Injury Update

He will miss at least the next two games, which are against the Montreal Canadians. The injury is unknown, but hopefully, he will be playing at 100 percent come playoff time.

Defenseman Justin Holl has been a defensive phenomenon for the Leafs on the second pairing. He is second on the team for hits and third for shots blocked. While he is not known for his offensive abilities, he has put up 19 points this season.

After taking a puck to the face on Monday, it was unclear if the Minnesota native would miss time, especially with the playoffs around the corner. Instead, he will remain in the lineup with a full cage on his helmet.

Winger Zach Hyman has become one of the more impactful players on a star-studded team. He has a career-high 0.77 points per game along with 69 hits. His presence on the forecheck is irreplaceable.

He hasn’t played since the April 18th matchup against the Vancouver Canucks when defenseman Alex Edler hit him knee on knee. Practicing with a red no-contact jersey suggests he is near a return, and Keefe might consider holding him out longer to ensure he is ready for the playoffs.

A depth defensive forward, Riley Nash, was acquired while on long-term injured reserve. He hasn’t contributed much offensively since he racked up 41 points with the Boston Bruins back in ’17-’18. He played in 37 games this season with Columbus, accumulating 33 hits and 21 blocks.

The center suffered a sprained knee back on April 4th and has been out with the injury since. Despite hopes for an earlier return, the expectation was to return for the playoffs, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the case. Being in a red shirt means that will likely happen.

This season was not always a smooth ride for the Toronto Maple Leafs. They had their struggles, and goaltender Frederik Andersen is the best example of that. He has a career-low .897 save percentage and 2.91 goals-against average despite owning a 13-8-2 record this season.

It seemed as if the goaltender was playing through nagging injuries all season. His last game was on March 19th, and in that time, backup Jack Campbell stole the show. Conditioning in the AHL means a return is near. How that impacts the team is now up in the air.

The Last Stretch

With only four games left, you want to make sure everyone is healthy in the playoffs. That means giving players rest days and sitting them out of games. Last week, the Toronto Maple Leafs sat three players for what they called “maintenance days.”

We can see more of that in the coming games. Give the depth players some opportunities to play and get ready for anything unfortunate that can happen down the road. (Stats courtesy of NHL.com).

Also, it gives them the chance to prove to Keefe that they can help gain a matchup advantage. Winning matchups are huge in the playoffs and can be what puts this year’s team over the top.