Maple Leafs get good news with latest injury updates

There is some good news for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team's performance continues to disappoint, but the latest injury updates are mostly positive for the franchise.

The Leafs could be getting a massive boost on Wednesday. Not only is Matthew Knies nearing a return, but there's also a chance Auston Matthews could suit up against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The mere possibility of his return is a lifeline for a team that has floundered without him, stumbling to a 1-4 record while getting outscored 17-12.

Regarding depth, Nicolas Roy has returned to skating and is expected to return soon to bolster the bottom six. In addition, Jake McCabe is expected to play on Wednesday, which avoids having to make risky rotations.

The situation is not as good in the crease. Anthony Stolarz remains "a ways away," so Joseph Woll will maintain the workload. And although Chris Tanev has already been on the ice, his timeline is still not firm. Brandon Carlo remains on IR without updates.

How these injury updates impact the Maple Leafs

Right now, the Maple Leafs are at the bottom of the Atlantic Division (9-10-3). Craig Berube's team urgently needs to recover its identity.

If Knies and Matthews are back in the fold, the excuses are gone. This group has to find a way to dictate the pace — breeze into the offensive zone with purpose, spend shifts grinding in the other end and actually make someone fear their power play. 

Roy, for his part, contributes mainly in forecheck and in third-line matchups, which is important for the team so as not to overburden the top forwards.

This defense is stuck in survival mode until it gets a healthy Tanev and Carlo back from IR. McCabe's return alone brings some much-needed stability to the blue line, cutting down on the chaos in their own end. The biggest risk is in the crease: Without Stolarz, Woll needs consistency night after night. Managing his workload and clearing the slot is key to his performance.