Leafs Coach Craig Berube Hints at Multiple Returns for the Team on Saturday
As the Leafs lose another forward to injury, head coach Craig Berube hinted that he expects more than just Auston Matthews to return on Saturday against Tampa Bay.
Bobby McMann became the seventh Leafs forward to go down with injury after leaving Wednesday's game with a lower-body injury.
Thankfully, Auston Matthews is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday after missing the last nine games with an upper-body injury.
After discussing McMann's injury following the Leafs' 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, Berube was asked about all the injuries up front and revealed that he expects more than just Matthews to return on Saturday.
Given that Matthews and Matthew Knies were the only two injured forwards to join the Leafs on their road trip, it would appear that Knies is also nearing a return. Knies was injured after taking a questionable hit in a game against the Vegas Golden Knights last Wednesday.
Many suspect Knies had been dealing with the affects of a concussion, but when hereturned to practice on Wednesday without a non-contact red jersey, it became clear that if that's what he was dealing it, it was mild.
The 22-year-old was in the midst of a dominant sophomore season with the Leafs having scored 8 times and recorded 12 points before being injured.
The returns of Knies and Matthews will provide the forward group a significant boost given that they are still without Ryan Reaves, Max Domi, Max Pacioretty, David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok, and now, McMann as well.
