Maple Leafs on Edge If Nylander Can't Play Against Winnipeg Tonight
William Nylander’s status tonight is the kind of uncertainty that makes fans hold their breath. He left Thursday’s Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 overtime loss in Vegas with a lower-body injury, having already scored a goal and added an assist. The timing couldn’t be worse. The Maple Leafs are counting on him, and if he can’t go against the Winnipeg Jets, it’s a big hit to their lineup.
Nylander Leads the Maple Leafs in Points
Nylander isn’t just a scorer. He leads the team with 48 points in 37 games, and his presence drives the offence. His passes create space, his vision opens lanes, and he can finish chances in tight spots. Losing him changes more than who’s on the ice—it alters the rhythm of the top six, how power plays run, and how opponents defend.
Coach Craig Berube couldn’t provide a clear timeline. “Right now, I can’t answer that,” he said. Lower-body injuries have a way of being tricky, and Nylander’s history makes it even more delicate. He was coming back from a six-game absence earlier in the season with a similar issue, and rushing him back would be risky.
If he can’t go, the Maple Leafs will lean on other forwards to pick up the slack. Some of them will need to step into bigger roles, create chances, and handle the puck in situations they aren’t used to. That’s possible, but it’s a challenge—Nylander’s skill set isn’t easy to replace.
What About Nylander and Team Sweden for the Olympics?
Another factor: Nylander is also headed to the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina 2026 for Sweden. That’s on the minds of everyone around him. The NHL Maple Leafs team needs him healthy now, but they also can’t risk making things worse before the Olympics.
So tonight, everything rides on his health. If he’s in the lineup, Toronto has its best chance to control the game and make things happen offensively. If he’s out, it will be a test of depth, of who can step up, and how the Maple Leafs manage without one of their top drivers. Either way, watching for Nylander’s status is the first thing fans are doing tonight.