As the Toronto Maple Leafs take to the ice at Ford Performance Centre in preparation of a home & away against the New Jersey Devils tonight and tomorrow, there is one notable absence for the Buds that has many in Leafs Nation concerned.
After returning to practice in a regular jersey last week, Jake Muzzin found himself in a position where his status was downgraded, having him revert to wearing a red non-contact jersey once again. On Monday, he's absent from practice entirely.
Muzzin is still dealing with a concussion, which he suffered back on January 15th against the St. Louis Blues. Post-concussion syndrome can be a nasty thing to deal with, and the path to recovery is certainly not a linear one. The timetable for his return remains unclear.