The Toronto Maple Leafs made a roster move Monday that reflects both short-term necessity and strategic planning. The team placed star winger William Nylander on injured reserve, retroactive to December 27, while recalling defenseman Marshall Rifai from the AHL's Toronto Marlies. The move gives Toronto added flexibility as they navigate multiple injuries on their blue line, though Nylander is eligible for activation at any time given the retroactive date.
Nylander's Return Timeline Remains Unclear
Nylander has been sidelined for four games since sustaining a lower-body injury against the Ottawa Senators nine days ago. According to David Alter of The Hockey News, the 29-year-old was back on the ice Monday and participated in practice, but he's expected to miss at least one more game. Despite the recurring absences, Nylander remains Toronto's offensive leader with 27 assists and 41 points in just 33 games this season. He's also been the team's most efficient scorer, converting at a 20.6% shooting percentage among players with at least 50 shots on goal.
Defensive Reinforcements Needed
The recall of Rifai signals legitimate concern about Jake McCabe's availability for Tuesday's matchup against the Florida Panthers. Head coach Craig Berube said after Saturday's overtime loss to the Islanders that McCabe would need evaluation for an undisclosed injury sustained in the third period. Rather than place McCabe on IR, the Leafs opted to put Nylander there instead, allowing for more roster flexibility since the forward has already been out for over a week. This removes any potential restrictions on when either player can be activated.
Rifai, 27, recently returned from wrist surgery that sidelined him during the preseason. In five games with the Marlies, the 6'2" left-shot defenseman has recorded two assists with eight penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating. The Quebec native has only two NHL games to his credit, neither coming since February 2024, but he could see action Tuesday if the Leafs continue playing Oliver Ekman-Larsson on his off side while keeping Philippe Myers as a healthy scratch. Myers was benched for the first time in several games against the Islanders after posting two assists and a minus-8 rating in 21 appearances this season.
While losing Nylander is never ideal, the Leafs have managed to stay afloat during his absence. Toronto has gone 2-0-2 in his four games out, collecting six of eight possible points without a regulation loss. Still, getting their leading scorer back at full strength will be crucial as the team pushes toward the playoffs. With the defensive corps already banged up, the Leafs need all the help they can get to maintain their current position in the standings.
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