Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander will return to the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. Nylander missed the Leafs’ past six games due to a lower-body injury sustained on December 27.
Toronto’s star winger skated on a line alongside Matias Maccelli and John Tavares during Saturday’s morning skate. Nylander leads the Maple Leafs in scoring with 14 goals and 41 points in 34 games.
William Nylander and Jake McCabe are on the ice ahead of the Leafs’ morning skate. pic.twitter.com/SF4pjOKITJ
— Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) January 10, 2026
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“He’s obviously a great player. Skill, speed, he adds offence. He adds to a lot of areas. It’s great to have him back,” Berube said of Nylander.
Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe is a game-time decision, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed. McCabe sustained a lower-body injury on January 3.
“I just aggravated a little thing, we’re all good there,” McCabe said of his injury.
McCabe initially skated alongside Matt Benning, then joined Oliver Ekman-Larsson during the latter half of the morning skate.
Anthony Stolarz skated before the Leafs’ formal session Saturday. Stolarz is still recovering from an upper-body injury sustained on November 11. Berube confirmed that Stolarz is progressing, and he expects the Leafs’ goaltender to join the team on the upcoming four-game road trip, which begins Monday against the Colorado Avalanche.
Leafs lines at Saturday’s morning skate:
Knies-Matthews-Domi
Maccelli-Tavares-Nylander
Cowan-Roy-Robertson
McMann-Laughton-LorentzRielly-Carlo
OEL-Stecher
Benoit-Myers
McCabe-BenningWoll (projected starter)
— Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) January 10, 2026
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Joseph Woll is the projected starter for Saturday’s game. Woll has posted a 9-4-2 record with a .916 save percentage in 16 appearances this season.
Toronto’s power play has been on fire since new assistant Steve Sullivan joined the team on December 26. Berube spoke about what he’s liked from the unit from the end of December onwards.
“Willie’s coming back. I like what (Matias) Maccelli has done on it. I like (Matthew) Knies in the bumper and I love the rotation with Willy and Knies, net-front, bumper, it just gives us more options there. They’re tough decisions we got to make, but I spoke to (Tavares) about it, he’s a good team guy and he’s fine.”
Maple Leafs’ projected lineup vs. Canucks
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Max Domi
Matias Maccelli-John Tavares-William Nylander
Easton Cowan-Nicolas Roy-Nick Robertson
Bobby McMann-Scott Laughton-Steven Lorentz
Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo
Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Troy Stecher OR Jake McCabe*
Simon Benoit-Philippe Myers
Joseph Woll (projected starter)
Dennis Hildeby