The Toronto Maple Leafs are activating forward William Nylander from the injured reserve for the second time in the last three weeks. Additionally, the team has reassigned Jacob Quillan to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies in a corresponding roster move.
Nylander has been on the shelf for much of January. A groin injury has limited him to only four games this month, not including this evening. Still, he was extremely productive during those contests, scoring three goals and seven points with a +2 rating.
Throughout the entire season, Nylander leads Toronto in scoring with 17 goals and 48 points in 37 games with a +1 rating, averaging 18:33 of ice time per night. Unfortunately, that hasn’t translated to much success on the defensive side of the puck, where Nylander is averaging an 85.9% on-ice SV% in all situations. That’s second-lowest on the team, barely ahead of John Tavares.
Regardless, the Maple Leafs have clearly struggled without him in the lineup. Since Nylander exited the lineup for a second time on January 17th, Toronto has managed a 1-5-1 record, averaging 2.57 GF/G. Their current losing streak has dropped the Maple Leafs to second-last in the Eastern Conference, 10 points back of the final wild-card spot.
If Toronto has any hope of clawing back into the playoffs for the 10th consecutive year, they will need Nylander to remain in the lineup. The team has shown dramatic flaws without him.
Meanwhile, Quillan will return to AHL Toronto after one appearance with the Maple Leafs during his recall. The 23-year-old forward has scored eight goals and 27 points in 28 games for the Marlies this season.