Nylander and McMann were absent from Maple Leafs practice in Boston on Friday, just one day before their series against the Bruins begins.
Nylander and McMann were absent from Maple Leafs practice in Boston on Friday, just one day before their series against the Bruins begins.
The Toronto Maple Leafs skated in Boston on Friday ahead of the start of their first-round series against the Bruins on Saturday and one of their biggest point-getters was missing from the skate.
William Nylander was the only player on the Maple Leafs to play in all 82 games this season. He finished the year with a career-high 98 points (40 goals, 58 assists). But the 27-year-old was one of the few players absent from Toronto's skate, just one day before they begin their quest in the postseason.
"Just kept him off the ice today," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of Nylander on Friday in Boston. "Both he and Bobby McMann both stayed off the ice today. Both are possibilities for tomorrow. That's it."
McMann didn't play in the final two games of the regular season after suffering a lower-body injury in the first period of Toronto's 5-4 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Apr. 13. The 27-year-old played just over four minutes before leaving that game early.
McMann, before the injury, was having a career year in Toronto. He reached highs in games played (56), goals (15), and assists (nine) with the Maple Leafs this season. As of late, he had been playing on Toronto's second line with John Tavares and Mitch Marner.
"I just think within the league and how he's been impacting the game for us and the role he's been playing, it's hopefully something that's not too long," said John Tavares on Monday.
"I mean, everyone plays a role, no matter big or small, but certainly his game has come on and his role has gotten larger and larger. And we'll miss him if he misses any time."
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As for Nylander, his injury, or illness, remains a mystery. Keefe made it fairly clear on Friday that the forward would be available for Game 1, though he didn't confirm that he'd be in the lineup.
"I mean, it's tough to replace Willy. I don't even know what's going on with him," said fellow Swede Calle Jarnkrok on Friday. "But I mean, hopefully he can play, but I guess we'll have to wait and see tomorrow."
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