Despite a few Maple Leafs still recovering from injuries, there are ongoing chances for other players to step up. Mitch Marner, who seemed lively during Friday’s full practice after his ankle injury on March 7, was unfortunately ruled out by coach Sheldon Keefe for Saturday’s game against Buffalo. Morgan Rielly is still not practicing, but there’s optimism about his return on Saturday. Keefe provided less clarity regarding Joel Edmundson and Timothy Liljegren, labeling them as “week-to-week,” but it seems they won’t miss the remainder of the regular season.
Keefe intends for Marner to push himself in at least one more practice session, though the next one isn’t until Tuesday between home games against Florida and Tampa Bay. Marner was unexpectedly defensive with reporters regarding the specifics of his injury, suggesting that the widely reported high ankle sprain is inaccurate, though he didn’t offer further details.
The time Marner has lost means he won’t reach 100 points after ending last season at 99. He currently stands 26 points shy of the milestone with nine games left after Saturday. Marner expressed a balance between personal goals and the team’s success, emphasizing his enjoyment in seeing his teammates give their all in his absence.
With Marner sidelined, players like Nick Robertson, Noah Gregor, Pontus Holmberg, and newcomer Connor Dewar are receiving increased ice time both at 5-on-5 and on special teams. Meanwhile, defensemen Mark Giordano, TJ Brodie, and Conor Timmins have stepped up, particularly in the recent victory over Washington.
The return of Giordano and Brodie from injury and temporary benching, respectively, allows Keefe to focus on developing Timmins’ game. Keefe aims to have all nine defensemen on the roster prepared for the playoffs.
Brodie acknowledges the challenge of being out of the lineup but emphasizes the importance of making the most of downtime, as advised by Keefe.
Overall, injuries have provided opportunities for players like Timmins to showcase their abilities, contributing positively to the team’s depth and development.