Maple Leafs' Craig Berube Addresses William Nylander's Injury
The Toronto Maple Leafs left Friday's game against the Buffalo Sabres with a loss and with their top performer out injured.
Toronto is still waiting on the status of winger William Nylander, who left Friday’s 5–3 loss to the Sabres in the third period and did not return.
The 29-year-old forward suffered a collision with a teammate near the knee area late in the game after contact from Jason Zucker and Rasmus Dahlin.
Though he attempted one more shift, Nylander was absent for Toronto’s final power play and did not rejoin the bench. It was his first game this season on Auston Matthews’ top line.
Head coach Craig Berube offered little clarity on the injury when asked postgame, leaving the door open for Nylander's absence on Saturday's rematch against Buffalo.
“Could he possibly play? Maybe,” Berube said when asked if Nylander might play. “Yeah, we’ll see. Gotta see him. I got to see tomorrow.”
The 29-year-old winger, who leads the Leafs with 14 points through eight games, scored earlier in Friday's game to extend his point streak to five games. Nylander has only failed to score at least one point once in eight games.
Toronto’s depth issues also continue to mount, with defensemen Chris Tanev and Morgan Rielly both sidelined, while goaltender Joseph Woll remains unavailable until Nov. 1 after rejoining the team on Friday morning.
Berube praised his group’s effort despite another defeat, the third consecutive for the Leafs.
“I love the effort tonight,” Berube said. “The back end’s banged up, but guys played hard. They outscored us. That’s really the bottom line.”
Toronto enters Saturday’s contest sitting at 3–4–1 in the standings. Nylander, who hasn’t missed a regular-season game since April 2022, is listed as day-to-day with an "undisclosed" injury.
The Leafs have shuffled the lines of late, and if Nylander misses time, Berube will need to reorganize his forward lines once again shortly after moving the Swedish winger to the top line and dropping Matthew Knies to the second unit.
Canadiens Coach Reacts to Patrik Laine’s Long-Term Injury: “A Huge Blow, But We’ll Adapt”
"Montreal faces tough road ahead as Laine is set to miss 3-4 months after surgery."
The
Head Coach of the Canadiens, Martin St. Louis, reacted to the news with a mixture of frustration and resolve, acknowledging the loss but stressing the importance of adaptation. “Losing Patrik for an extended period of time is a huge blow for us. He’s a key player, and we’ll miss his offensive ability and leadership on the ice. But we’re a team, and we’ll have to adapt. Our focus now is on supporting Patrik through his recovery, and when he’s ready to return, we’ll be here to welcome him back. In the meantime, we need others to step up and help fill the gap,”
This injury comes just as Laine was beginning to find his rhythm with the Canadiens, after a frustrating first season with the team. Last season, he missed significant time due to a preseason knee injury, and while he made a strong return, his performance waned in the latter part of the season and during the playoffs, where he was injured again in their series against
While Laine was able to make it through training camp healthy, the current season has not been kind. He was already struggling with limited ice time, having been relegated to fourth-line minutes after starting on the second line. In just
Laine's Determination to Return
Despite the setback, Laine remains determined to return stronger than ever. “It’s frustrating, of course, but I’m going to do everything I can to get back on the ice as soon as possible. I’ve been through injuries before, and I know the process. I’ll focus on my recovery, and when I’m healthy again, I’ll be ready to contribute to the team’s success. It’s not ideal, but I’m determined to come back stronger,”
The injury not only affects the Canadiens’ lineup but also Laine’s future. With this being a contract year, the long-term absence is expected to impact his value on the open market. Laine currently carries an
Montreal’s Next Steps
For the Canadiens, the focus now shifts to the next man up. With Laine out for months, they’ll need other players to step up in his absence.
Despite the tough situation, St. Louis remains optimistic that the team can overcome this challenge:
As the season continues without one of their top players, the Canadiens will need to adapt quickly to keep their playoff hopes alive. Laine’s absence is significant, but his eventual return could provide the spark needed to push the team toward success.
