As the regular season of the NHL gets into it’s final stretch, the talk of the Stanley Cup playoffs has grown. With the playoffs now less than a month away, the spotlight has now shifted on several teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are currently missing one of their star player, Mitch Marner .
The forward has been out of action since March 7 following an injury against the Boston Bruins. Since then his continued absence from the ice field has left the fans concerned about him. An NHL Insider though has now dropped a crucial update regarding Mitch Marner.
As per NHL Insider Darren Dreger, the Maple Leafs are taking a cautious approach regarding Mitch Marner. With the playoffs coming up, the Toronto-based side does not wish to hurry up his return. As per Dreger, the team would have him back if playoffs were on the line.
I'm getting somewhat conflicting information. But I do think that the Maple Leafs are wise in this approach. I feel like if there were a playoff spot on the line, of course, he'd be playing... Toronto Maple Leafs medical [staff] is running the show here, and Marner will be back when he's ready. Darren Dreger on Mitch Marner.
Since Marner’s absence, the Leafs are 4-2-1. His return will definitely boost their offensive but the fans would likely want him to be fit for the main playoff games rather than the last two-three games of the season.
Will the Maple Leafs fall into wild card spot following the end of the season?
After finishing the 2022-23 season in second place, around 24 points behind runaway leader Boston Bruins, the Toronto Maple Leafs were hoping for an improvement in this area and had their sights set on competing for the division crown. However, this season has not turned out as they planned.
In a topsy-turvy season, the Canadian outfit is currently sitting third in the Atlantic Division, eight points behind both the Florida Panthers and the Boston Bruins. Many fans are now wondering whether the team will be able to hold on to their spot or will they fall into the wild card spot.
Despite losing their last game, the Leafs have one positive on their side. They had played one game less than the fourth-placed team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and are four points ahead of them. Meanwhile fifth place, Detroit Red Wings have also placed one game more than them and are eleven points behind them.
So unless something drastic happens, the Leafs would likely avoid dropping into the wild card spot. This could become crucial as the fourth-placed team would end up facing the New York Rangers, the current leaders of the Metropolitan Division. The Leafs though could end up facing their rivals, the Bruins, a team who completed a season sweep against them this season.
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