Maple Leafs star surprisingly absent from morning skate

"The Toronto Maple Leafs are having a somewhat normal start to their season. A couple disappointing performances against the Detroit Red Wings, but then a dominating win over the lowly Nashville Predators. Balance before the season truly gets going. But of course, some drama had to happen just before the fifth game of their campaign. At Thursday's morning skate before the Leafs lace up to take on the visiting New York Rangers, there was no sign of William Nylander. Every single beat reporter, seemingly at the same time, realized that the top Toronto winger was absent from the typical practice ahead of that night's game."

"At the time of writing, there is no explanation as to why Nylander is missing. There was no obvious injury during Monday's game against the Predators and by the looks of the practice lines, head coach Craig Berube doesn't appear to be concerned that the star winger will be missing Thursday's game against the Rangers. According to TSN's Mark Masters, the typical line of John Tavares, William Nylander, and Matias Maccelli this season is not going to be massively changed."

"In Nylander's place is Steven Lorentz and no disrespect to the fourth-line grinder, but he is, well, a fourth-line grinder and would almost certainly not be in an actual NHL game in the Leafs' top six and next to John Tavares of all centermen. The other three forward lines are as expected -- Auston Matthews with Matthew Knies and rookie Easton Cowan; Max Domi centering Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann; and with Scott Laughton's ongoing injury, Nicolas Roy is manning the fourth line between Dakota Joshua and the red-hot Calle Jarnkrok."

The Toronto Maple Leafs opened the season with mixed results, recording losses to the Detroit Red Wings and a dominant win over the Nashville Predators. William Nylander was absent from the morning skate ahead of a game against the New York Rangers, and reporters quickly noted his absence. There is no announced explanation and no visible injury from Monday's game. Practice alignments suggested coach Craig Berube did not appear worried about a prolonged absence. Steven Lorentz was placed where Nylander would normally appear, while the rest of the forward group remained largely unchanged.

Read at Editor In Leaf