Leafs’ William Nylander placed on injured reserve

Nylander’s placement on IR is retroactive to Dec. 27, when he suffered a lower-body injury against the rival Ottawa Senators.  The Swedish national left the game in the second period, not long after a net-mouth scramble that led to him being engaged with Senators defender Artem Zub. Nylander had been listed as day-to-day ever since.

Per the NHL’s IR rules, Nylander could return to the lineup whenever he’s ready to go and a roster spot is available. In the first four games the 29-year-old has missed, Toronto has done okay, going 2-0-2 after losing to the New York Islanders in overtime this past Saturday night.

While the team around him has been inconsistent, Nylander has been one of the team’s most productive players. In 33 games, he has registered 27 assists and 41 points, leading the team in scoring. He’s also the only player thus far on the roster to have reached 40 points this season, posting 13 multi-point performances.

Rifai was recently sent down to the Marlies, joining the team last month on a conditioning loan after coming back from wrist surgery. He was later placed on waivers and cleared before returning to the Leafs’ top farm team. In five games with the Marlies, he has registered two assists and a plus/minus of +2.

Rifai’s lone bit of NHL experience came in February of the 2023-24 season, playing two games with the Leafs.

The Leafs (19-15-7) are still last in the Atlantic Division, but are just three points back of the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.