Maple Leafs make Surprise Move with William Nylander at Practice

With a spot on the top line open, the expectation was that William Nylander would slot into a spot alongside Auston Matthews and Tyler Bertuzzi, but after a disappointing performance, Sheldon Keefe opted for a different ploy.

In practice, Nylander was demoted back to the second line alongside John Tavares and Max Domi, leaving veteran Calle Jarnkrok to take a spot on the top line.

With Marner expected back for the St. Patrick's Day showdown with the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, it makes sense not to switch the lineups so much, but with Matthews' cold streak seeing him net just one goal in his last five outings, an explosive playmaker like Nylander would have been good alongside him.

Ultimately though, the fewer lineup changes the better for Toronto, and with Marner back, it makes sense to keep Nylander alongside Tavares and Domi, two players he's built solid chemistry with in 2023-24.

As Read on Hockey Patrol - Bad News for William Nylander at Maple Leafs Latest Practice