Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Roy, Knies, Matthews, McCabe injury report – The Hockey Writers Toronto Maple Leafs Latest News, Analysis & More

The Toronto maple leaves woke up this morning and found themselves last in the Atlantic Division, a place no one thought they would even be close to at the end of November. It’s the kind of status that gives all of Leafs Nation an itch it can’t scratch. Too many nights their team has been chasing games, too many stretches where the structure goes sideways, and not nearly enough resistance when things start to slide.

On Wednesday evening they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. Normally this type of play doesn’t feel like a pressure point. Today yes. The Maple Leafs need a clean, fair, drama-free win. If they can do it, it still won’t fix everything overnight, but they have to stop the bleeding at some point.

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Here’s the good news. Help may actually be on the way. For the first time in a while, the practice sheet didn’t look like a triage bay anymore. A handful of names came up in the drills, and head coach Craig Berube sounded less like a coach juggling crises and more like someone who is starting to see the pieces fall into place.

It’s foolish to believe that injuries have been the whole story of Toronto’s stumbling block. Yet they have had a (broken) hand in shaping the past two weeks. Only the Nashville Predators have done that had a worse run of 10 games. As the Maple Leafs try to turn their season around, they will at least get some bodies back in the lineup.

Point one: Nicolas Roy – Back in practice, but still unsure

Nicolas Roy took part in training on Monday, which in itself is a small victory. He has missed three straight games due to an upper-body issue, and the team has not yet clarified whether he will suit up for the Blue Jackets. Roy is not a key player, but he is a good attacker who makes a squad feel connected: hard with pucks, reliable in defense and stable in defense.

Before the injury, he scored one goal and three assists, put 21 shots on net, blocked 11 and threw 19 goals in 19 games. It seems close, but “close” in November could mean a few more days. Toronto won’t rush him.

Point two: Matthew Knies is day to day, possibly Wednesday

Matthew Knies has also missed three games, although his lower body is injured. Sounding cautious but optimistic Monday, Berube noted Knies is “close” and that a final call could come after Tuesday’s skate.

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The Maple Leafs will miss Knies when he is gone. He brings that straight, tough game that the team doesn’t have enough of. Even if he doesn’t play on Wednesday, it doesn’t seem like he’s in for anything long-term. For a team that has lost too many puck battles, Knies’ return would be more than welcome.

Point three: Auston Matthews is on the rise, but not fixed yet

Auston Matthews was back on the ice and is not ruled out for Wednesday, which sounds like excellent news. Berube told reporters he needed to know more after Tuesday’s practice: a familiar tune, but at least it points in the right direction. Matthews has been dealing with a lower-body issue, and the Maple Leafs have looked nowhere near the same without him.

Whenever Matthews returns, he jumps right back onto the first line and anchors the top power play unit. Toronto needs goals, tone changes and honestly just the presence of their franchise center. When he’s in it, the whole couch breathes easier.

Point four: Jake McCabe is expected back against Columbus

The cleanest injury update of the day came from Jake McCabe, who appears to be doing well on Wednesday. He left Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens after taking a hit, but Berube said he had to be ready.

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That’s important. McCabe is one of the few Maple Leafs defensemen who has given them solid minutes night after night. He scored three goals, seven assists, 53 blocks, 30 hits and more than 21 minutes per game. In short, he has been carrying weight on a blue line that is not exactly airtight. If Toronto wants to tighten up defensively, having McCabe in the lineup is important.

What’s next for the Maple Leafs?

Wednesday night isn’t a season maker, but it can’t be a step backwards either. The Blue Jackets are fast and have given the Maple Leafs problems. But they are not a powerhouse, and so this game requires a cleaner, harder effort.

Toronto doesn’t just need points; they need an evening where they look like the best version of themselves again. And now that a few bodies are joining the queue again, they may finally have enough pieces available to steady the ship.