William Nylander toys with reporters when asked about injury
William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs spoke with reporters today for the first time since missing the first three games of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs
When you're playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, you want your best players on the ice. The Toronto Maple Leafs, however, have been missing one of their top stars for all three games of their first round series against the Boston Bruins so far. Finally, William Nylander has chosen to speak.
After being a full participant in a Maple Leafs postseason practise for the first time since the regular season ended, Nylander decided to take questions. Of course, the first one asked was about his absence so far, and how he's feeling now. Nylander let it be known immediately that it's a private matter.
Nylander praised his teammates for what he's seen so far, despite Toronto currently losing the series to Boston 2-1. He was then asked what was the hardest part of jumping back into full practice with the team for the first time in a while. Nylander gave a one word answer.
Reporter: "Sorry?"
Nylander: "Nothing."
Reporter: "Why not?"
Nylander: "Because I've been skating and everything, and I'm like ok, I'm fine."
The session was quickly ended at that point, and nothing else was said, including whether Nylander would play Saturday night in game 4. However, he was practicing on a line with Calle Jarnkrok and Pontus Holmberg, as well as the team's top power-play unit. It appears he's at least closer than he has been to returning than any point in the playoffs so far.
Nylander played game 82 of the regular season, and then hasn't played since. The only credible report on his absence so far comes from Elliotte Friedman, who said that Nylander has been dealing with a severe migraine. Friedman was unsure whether it was concussion related.
| POLL | ||
What do you think of Nylander's answers to reporters on why he hasn't been playing? | ||
| His right | 78 | 42.4 % |
| Just tell us what the issue is already | 75 | 40.8 % |
| I don't know | 31 | 16.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
