William Nylander didn't want to reveal the ailment that has kept him out of the playoffs, but he's looking closer than ever to returning to the lineup.
William Nylander didn't want to reveal the ailment that has kept him out of the playoffs, but he's looking closer than ever to returning to the lineup.
William Nylander took part in a full practice session with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the first time since his mysterious absence that began last week before the club was set to open its first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins.
Although Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that the player is dealing with an issue that was sparked by a migraine, Nylander didn't refused to reveal exactly what has forced him to miss the first three games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"Look, that's just personal so I'm not going to get into that, but anything else you guys want to discuss."
Nylander was a full participant during the team's full practice on Friday. If he's able to return, it appears he'd be situation on a line with Pontus Holmberg and Calle Jarnkrok.
But perhaps where the Leafs could use him the most is on the club's power play that is just 1-for-11 in the series.
"They've been doing a good job. Their goalie's been playing well," Nylander said of the special team's unit. "We just got to try to create some more rebounds and get pucks.
'I think, is an easy thing to say, but I think it'll work, too."
All signs point to Nylander's return for Game 4, but the player was non-committal in giving himself the full go-ahead.
"I mean, it is what it is. There's nothing to really stress about. You can't force yourself back into the game," Nylander said. "So, I'll be ready when I'm ready."
The Maple Leafs trail the Bruins 2-1 in their best-of-seven series with Game 4 scheduled for Saturday at Scotiabank Arena. As much as they want Nylander back, the club is going to take every precaution to ensure that the Nylander that returns is the same one that managed 40 goals and 58 assists in 82 regular season games
"He's a very important player for us in many regards," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of Nylander. "So getting him back would be important but obviously getting him to full health and making sure he's ready to step into a series of this caliber and this time of year and all that kind of stuff. That would be the next step."
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Generally, the Leafs have a pretty good idea if an injured player is ready to return following a full practice session. However, the club has been dodgy in terms of giving any lineup information as the art of gamesmanship has been on full display for both clubs.
Earlier in the series, Keefe refused to give updates on Nylander's status. He has softened hist stance on that a bit.
Being out of the lineup for Nylander has been a bit stressed out watching the games from up in the press box.
"I don't like it. I mean, just, I mean, it's so many chances. That first game was crazy," Nylander said. "There's so many chances in the first two minutes and my heart was just, I don't know what was going on. I wasn't sitting still, like, it was crazy."
Nylander admitted it's a lot easier to keep his heart rate down while playing in a rather than watching his team. But when he eventually makes his return, Nylander says nothing will challenge him in his first game back on the ice.
"Because I've been skating and everything," Nylander said. "I'm fine."
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