Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander is considered a game-time decision for Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.
“He will be a game-time decision,” Berube said to reporters after the morning skate. “We’ll see how the day goes for him. I think there’s improvement so hopefully he’s better later and ready and able to play.”
This comes after Nylander was absent from Tuesday’s practice due to an illness that the Leafs’ coach revealed is going around the dressing room right now. It is likely the same bug that resulted in John Tavares missing Saturday’s home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins as well as Monday’s practice, though he did return to the ice on Tuesday.
Nylander did not participate in the morning skate because of the illness so a decision determining whether he will play won’t be known until during the warmups.
Should Nylander be unable to play in Wednesday night’s contest, the Leafs have already adjusted their lines at Tuesday’s practice in anticipation of the star player’s potential absence. Tavares was seen centring a line with Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg while Max Domi slid down to the third line which has him paired with Bobby McMann and Max Pacioretty. Additionally, Pacioretty took some reps on the top power-play unit as a fill-in.
Nylander is beginning the first year of an eight-year extension he signed back in January that pays him an AAV of $11.5 million. The last campaign was a career year for him where was able to play in all 82 games and record 98 points (40 goals and 58 assists) in that span. He missed parts of the first-round series against the Boston Bruins due to migraines but came back to be Toronto’s leading goal scorer with three goals in four games.
In three games so far this season, Nylander has picked up two goals, which both came in Saturday’s win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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