The Leafs practiced with Max Domi moving to Marner's spot on the wing.
CALGARY — Mitch Marner was notably absent during Toronto Maple Leafs practice at Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday.
Shortly after the club's session began with Marner not taking part, the Leafs advised that Marner and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson were not on the ice due to "maintenance".
Ekman-Larsson sustained a lower-body injury during the club's 4-3 win against the Edmonton Oilers. The injury was evident at the time, but the veteran defender did not come back to the bench for the second and third periods. The defenseman's absence wasn't a surprise, but Marner's was.
When asked if there was a chance Marner may not play on Tuesday when the club takes on the Calgary Flames, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was a bit coy in his dismissal.
"We'll see how they are tomorrow," Berube said, referring to Marner and Ekman-Larsson.
When pressed if something happened to Marner in the game, Berube said he didn't see anything in the game that occurred and the player didn't report anything.
The Leafs recalled veteran defenseman Dakota Mermis while sending center Fraser back to the Marlies, suggesting the club may need some depth at the defensive position following Ekman-Larsson's ailment, but the Leafs practiced as though they may be without Marner, having Max Domi move to the right side of Auston Matthews, a position he occupied late last season when Marner sustained a high-ankle sprain.
Berube said Marner's absence from practice doesn't necessarily mean he won't play, but making a switch to two lines instead of a placeholder in Marner's spot suggests there is a good chance No. 16 doesn't play.
Domi has gone 19 straight games without a goal and perhaps the shift to the wing could help him. Last season, Domi moved to Marner's spot as the star sustained a reported ankle injury late last season and had a goal and nine assists in the 12 games Marner missed. When Marner did return in early April, Domi remained on the top line into the playoffs.
Although Domi has struggled this season to produce, his teammates say it hasn't shown in his demeanour.
"He's the same person every day, and I think that's something that I've really noticed early on, and I admire about him because it's not easy," Matthews said of Domi. "The season brings a lot of ups and downs, and it's a bit of a roller coaster sometimes, but you'll never see him wear that.
"He comes in, he's the same guy every day, good energy always says hi to everybody. He gives the most taps on the ass than I've ever seen out of a teammate. So that's something I really appreciate."
Marner leads the Leafs with 70 points in 52 games this season. Domi has three goals and 16 assists in 44 games this season.
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