Huge Ryan O'Reilly update, plus several interesting roster changes
After a week or so of pre-practice skills sessions and non-contact practice, Ryan O'Reilly returned to practice as a full participant, shedding the red non-contact jersey that he had been donning prior to today's skate. O'Reilly had missed the last month with a broken finger.
O'Reilly wasn't the only injured forward coming back as a full participant as Noel Acciari, who has missed the last few games with a neck injury, also returned as a full participant in this morning's skate. Unfortunately for O'Reilly, he'll still need to await the results of another x-ray and check-up before he can be cleared. Acciari, on the other hand, will draw back in tonight against Columbus.
In terms of how the lines could look for the Leafs tonight, Auston Matthews skated with Calle Jarnkrok and Michael Bunting, while Keefe reunited O'Reilly with John Tavares and Mitch Marner, who returns after sitting last game for "load management". It's still unclear as to who will slot in for O'Reilly, but Tavares could just shift back to the middle of the ice. It is important to note, however, that the trio of Nylander/Tavares/Marner took some shifts together on Saturday in Ottawa.
David Kampf, Sam Lafferty and Zach Aston-Reese have been reunited while Nick Abruzzese likely remains in the lineup, skating with the aforementioned Acciari and utility forward Alexander Kerfoot. Nylander did miss practice today, but it was a part of his rest regiment and he is still expected to play tonight.
On the back end, despite the success of Jake McCabe and T.J. Brodie as a pairing, Keefe has opted to shuffle the deck and reunite Brodie with Morgan Rielly, while McCabe lines up beside Justin Holl. Luke Schenn appears to be the odd man out tonight and will get a rest day as Timothy Liljegren draws back in alongside Mark Giordano.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 4 | 341 ANSWERS Huge Ryan O'Reilly update, plus several interesting roster changes Should Jake McCabe and T.J. Brodie be put back together for the playoffs? | ||
| Definitely | 250 | 73.3 % |
| Not necessarily - they should mix and match | 70 | 20.5 % |
| Absolutely not | 21 | 6.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
