"That subtext stems from a comment Elliotte Friedman made a few days ago. In that statement, Friedman alluded to concerns about players "holding on by a thread" in terms of injury situations. In other words, some players, while clearly banged up, will still be playing. These guys are going to be pushing through injuries just to get the chance to play for their home countries."
"The first Maple Leafs player that comes to mind is William Nylander. Nylander will be playing for Team Sweden at Milano-Cortina. Now, the Leafs' winger had missed about a half-dozen games with a groin injury. But he hit the ice just in time for the Olympics. Under such circumstances, it wouldn't be a stretch to suppose that Nylander isn't 100%. He'll still grind through the Olympics, though, as Friedman noted, could Nylander be one of the players shut down following the Olympics?"
"If Sweden goes all the way to the gold medal game, the additional toll on his body may warrant some time off when he returns. That scenario, however, isn't exactly one that the Maple Leafs would like. The Leafs believe they still have a shot to make the playoffs. So, they'll need Nylander in the lineup. Let's hope that this is nothing but speculation on my behalf."
Injuries are a major concern when NHL players participate in the Olympics. Serious injuries have occurred recently, demonstrating tangible risks to players and teams. Some players appear to be competing while significantly banged up and may be 'holding on by a thread' to make Olympic rosters. William Nylander missed several games with a groin injury but returned in time to join Team Sweden, raising the possibility of a post-Olympics shutdown if extended play exacerbates the issue. A full Olympic run could increase recovery needs. The Toronto Maple Leafs view Nylander as vital for a playoff push. Auston Matthews shows no similar current injury concern.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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