Updates on Muzzin and Campbell; they're on different recovery timelines but may return together
The Leafs are slowly nearing full health and it couldn't come at a better time with the playoffs right around the corner. The latest reports on Jake Muzzin (concussion) suggest that he may be close to being ready to return to action, while Jack Campbell (ribs) appears to still be a ways away.
On Friday, the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran has suggested that, while Muzzin and Campbell are on different recovery timelines, we could end up seeing them return at the same time.
The biggest issue in why we may not see one before the other is that the Leafs have eaten into their LTIR cap relief and will need to clear just over $1.8M in order to activate Jake Muzzin. McGran pointed out that since Petr Mrazek has already cleared waivers and Timothy Liljegren does not need to clear waivers to be sent down, the Leafs could demote them to clear enough space to welcome Jake Muzzin back.
The problem with this idea is that if Mrazek is sent down, the Leafs will have only Erik Kallgren and either Joseph Woll or an emergency backup goaltender until Campbell is ready to return.
Obviously, with points in the standings being as important as they are for the Leafs right now, they're not going to put their faith in an inexperienced tandem, so allowing Muzzin to rest a little longer than necessary before activating him seems like the most likely scenario.
| POLL | ||
MARS 25 | 213 ANSWERS Updates on Muzzin and Campbell; they're on different recovery timelines but may return together Should the Leafs keep Muzzin out until Campbell is ready? | ||
| Yes | 137 | 64.3 % |
| No | 76 | 35.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
