Leafs’ William Nylander to return to lineup against Penguins

The Toronto Maple Leafs will get their top winger back Monday, as William Nylander is set to return to for the team’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis.

It’s still unknown which player will come out of Toronto’s lineup to make room for Nylander, but look for the 40-goal man to assume his familiar role on the right wing alongside center John Tavares.

Nylander has missed three of the last four games for the Maple Leafs, including the team’s last two games, while dealing with a lower-body injury. For the last two, waiver-claim Sammy Blais has filled in admirably, earning a goal and an assist. As a result, it would be a slight surprise should Blais be the one to draw out of the lineup, especially given head coach Craig Berube’s experience with Blais with the St. Louis Blues.

When healthy, Nylander has arguably been Toronto’s best player this season. In just nine games, the 2014 eighth-overall pick has three goals and 12 assists for 15 points. He’s also third on the team among forwards in average ice time, with 19 minutes and 25 seconds per game.

The Leafs aren’t used to life without Nylander, as the star forward has played all 82 regular season games each of the past three seasons, a stretch of time that coincides with the peak of his career. Nylander has scored 40 goals in three straight years, including a 98-point season in 2023-24.

The Leafs could certainly use Nylander’s offense, as their 13 points in 12 games has them tied for last place in the log jammed Atlantic Division, which has just five points seperating top from bottom.

Toronto kicks off a four-game homestand against the Penguins on Monday, followed by the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday and the Boston Bruins next Saturday.