Jake Muzzin reportedly stepping back from team activities

The phrase "no rest for the wicked" should be personified by the Leafs moving forward down the home stretch and into the postseason, as they are no doubt hungry for their first run past the first round in the Auston Matthews era. Well.. Since the early 2000's really, but you get my point.

After skating as an extra at practice on Tuesday, injured defenseman Jake Muzzin took part in his first actual practice Wednesday since coming out of the lineup with his second concussion of the season on February 21st. As we all know, Dubas said that he wouldn't actively hold the veteran blueliner out of the lineup just to take advantage of his LTIR relief. Dubas stated a few weeks back that if Muzzin was healthy and cleared to return before the end of the season, he would resume playing before the playoffs.

In an interesting development following practice on Wednesday, Sheldon Keefe touched on Muzzin's presence at practice, clarifying that a return to action is not imminent and that Muzzin will take a step back from team activities to ensure that he is giving himself the proper time to heal from his second traumatic brain injury this season.

So what does this mean? Does it mean that Muzzin is choosing to sit out the remainder of this season to ensure that he gets back to 100% before a return? That much remains unclear, but the fact that the team is confirming that Muzzin will take a step back would indicate that his presence around the team this week was likely more of a trial run than anything else. A way to see where he's at in terms of taking note of any symptoms he may have during and after physical exertion.

Obviously, the Leafs are remaining pretty tight lipped about Muzzin's actual status for their remaining 22 games, but I would imagine they have a pretty good idea of where he stands. Will he be back before the end of the season? Or will he sit out of his own accord and allow the Leafs some extra spending money at the deadline? I suppose we'll have the answer by Monday.