Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable
'If You Say Guys Don't Target One Another, I've Got News For You, They Do': Maple Leafs' Sheldon Keefe Explains Secrecy Behind Maple Leafs' Injury News During Stanley Cup Playoffs
William Nylander is likely to make his 2024 playoffs debut on Saturday and head coach Sheldon Keefe explained why injury news is closely guarded in the playoffs.
When William Nylander missed the Toronto Maple Leafs' first practice of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it begged the question to head coach Sheldon Keefe on what is plaguing his talented star?
That's when Keefe said he was advised by GM Brad Treliving that there would be no lineup or injury updates during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Nylander went on to miss the first three games, but all signs point to the player making his debut on Saturday when the club hosts the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of their first-round series at Scotiabank Arena.
Keefe has softened his stance on lineup news but injury details is still kept tight. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman that Nylander had a migraine issue, which led to his absence but the Leafs refused to confirm anything.
The Leafs head coach was also asked why in hockey, news is kept quiet whereas in the NFL and NBA they are required to give injury information.
"Probably a better question for the league, quite honestly. They set the governance and all the different rules that I think if there wasn't such governance in the other leagues, I don't think the coaches and players would give things out. So that's part of it," Keefe said.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6hSa0Tv-oE[/embed]
""The other part of it is, because there's no such governance, then my end of it, and I think all coaches, you're protecting your players. Just so, it's a very competitive and physical game.
"And if say guys don't target one another, well, I got news for you, they do. So that's part of the game. So when you can protect the players and protect some information, why wouldn't you?
The Leafs are certainly not alone in keeping secrets with their lineup. The Bruins have kept their goaltending deployment closely guarded until warmups.
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