The Toronto Maple Leafs face a significant challenge as they open a pivotal five-game homestand at Scotiabank Arena, potentially without two key offensive players. Forward Matthew Knies is still battling a lingering lower-body injury that has hampered him for weeks, casting doubt on his availability.
Injury Concerns Loom Over Key Stretch
Head coach Craig Berube confirmed on Monday that Knies has not fully recovered from the issue that previously sidelined him for three games in late November. "Knies is still dealing with the same thing," Berube stated, describing it as an ongoing problem that bothers the young forward "a lot for quite some time." The coach noted the injury seems to improve only with extended breaks, like the recent Christmas pause, but has persisted otherwise.
The team is already without star winger William Nylander, who is out with a groin injury suffered last week in Las Vegas. Nylander, who leads the Leafs with 48 points in just 37 games this season, did not participate in Monday's morning skate.
Lineup Adjustments and Call-Up
With both Knies and Nylander potentially unavailable for the homestand opener against the Minnesota Wild, Berube and his staff were forced to shuffle their lines. Scott Laughton moved from centre to left wing on the second line, flanking John Tavares and Matias Maccelli.
In anticipation of Knies being scratched, the Leafs recalled forward Jacob Quillan from the minors on Monday morning. If Knies cannot play, Quillan is slated to centre the fourth line with Steven Lorentz and Calle Jarnkrok.
Knies's productivity has dipped recently, with only one goal in nine games during January. This slump led to his demotion from the top line, where Bobby McMann has taken his spot alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
High-Stakes Homestand Against Playoff Teams
The timing of these injuries is far from ideal, as the Maple Leafs welcome five consecutive opponents who are all currently in playoff positions. The homestand, which runs from January 19 to January 28, 2026, features matchups against the Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, and Buffalo Sabres.
Despite a strong record of 7-1-2 since December 30, the Leafs find themselves outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture, a testament to the NHL's tightly packed standings. The upcoming games, particularly against Atlantic Division rivals Detroit and Buffalo, are crucial for climbing back into contention.
Goaltender Joseph Woll is set to start in net against Minnesota's Filip Gustavsson. The Wild are also dealing with significant absences, missing forwards Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson-Ek, along with defencemen Jonas Brodin and Zach Bogosian. However, they have integrated elite defenceman Quinn Hughes, acquired from Vancouver in a major trade five weeks ago.
The Leafs will rely on their strong home-ice performance, where they average 3.69 goals per game, ranking third in the league behind only Colorado and Carolina. "We're feeling good about the energy this place has had," said Bobby McMann. "It feels nice to be in that one spot and get that familiarity of being at home."
