Star Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner won’t make his return for at least two more games, per The Athletic’s Jonas Siegel (Twitter link). That would bring Marner up to 10 games missed with a high ankle sprain. His return is gaining anticipation with each absence, with Marner again serving as one of Toronto’s premier talents. He’s scored 25 goals and 76 points in just 62 games this season – a 100-point scoring pace across 82 games. He’ll try to chase the 90-point mark for the third straight season when he returns, though he may find himself short a few minutes on account of Max Domi. Domi has scored one goal and nine points in eight games while serving in Marner’s top-six role, including a four-assist night on March 20th. But even with Domi’s help, Toronto is undoubtedly missing Marner – going 4-3-1 in his absence, after a 19-3-6 hot streak.
Other notes from around the league:
- Toronto goaltender Ilya Samsonov feels ready to return after missing the team’s last two games with a calf contusion, per TSN’s Mark Masters (Twitter link). Martin Jones has returned to a backup role in Samsonov’s absence, though his only appearance has been the three minutes he filled for Samsonov in the team’s Saturday game. Joseph Woll has continued to carry the starter role, though he’s lost both games that Samsonov has missed.
- But while Toronto is expecting Samsonov back, they could still be without defenseman Morgan Rielly, per Sportsnet’s Luke Fox (Twitter link). Rielly is facing an upper-body injury that also held him out of the team’s Tuesday night game. He’s been an impactful defender when active – managing seven goals and 51 points in 65 games this season. He’ll likely bump either Simon Benoit or Ilya Lyubushkin out of the lineup when he returns.
- Buffalo Sabres forward Lukas Rousek is expected to miss a couple of days with an upper-body injury, after taking a stick in the face from practice, per Bleacher Report’s Joe Yerdon (Twitter link). Rousek’s role will be filled by Jack Quinn, who is making his return from a lower-body injury that required surgery in January. Quinn has only played in 17 games this season – though he’s been impactful, scoring five goals and 12 points.
I think Jack Quinn will be a stud next year and for years to come. Sabres have a long way to go to get in the playoffs next year. I like the top 8-10 players on their roster, but this is the off-season where they need some late 20’s to 32 year old players with talent and experience not another Erik Johnson type. The trade for Byrum was a great move. Someone needs to tell sabres to get off to a good start next year.
Matt Duchene (1 yr/$6.5 mill) would be a good add at 3C behind Tage and Cozens.
Sabres are gonna end up getting a 4th Super Stud All Around Dman (this one will be righthanded) with their 1st Round pick this year (likely in the 8-12 range).
I think they’re gonna end up with one of these three: Yakemchuk, Jiricek, or Parekh.
Just moved back to WNY after 30 years of living in Colorado and Arizona. Would be nice to start seeing more Sabres banners and flags in front of local houses, crazy how (literally) like every third house in the entirety of WNY has an actual Bills Flag, Giant Banner, or some variation of a Diggs/Allen election Meme sign in front of it.
Making the Playoffs next year would be a good start.