Joshua (illness) won't participate in Saturday's game against Edmonton, per David Alter of The Hockey News.
Joshua has five goals, nine points, 23 PIM and 99 hits in 29 outings this season. Bobby McMann is set to draw back into the lineup following a one-game suspension, which coincides with Joshua's exit.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Slated to play Saturday
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Nylander (illness) is expected to play Saturday versus Edmonton, per David Alter of The Hockey News.
Nylander has 11 goals and 34 points in 26 appearances this season. He was questionable for the game after missing Saturday's practice, but it seems the illness won't cost him any ice time. Nylander should be given his usual top-six role and spot on the first power-play unit.
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Maple Leafs' Oliver Ekman-Larsson: Playing Saturday
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Ekman-Larsson (leg) said Saturday that he will be in the lineup versus Edmonton on Saturday, Lance Hornby of The Toronto Sun reports.
It appeared that Ekman-Larsson would be out a while after he needed help off the ice Thursday against the Sharks. Ekman-Larsson said that his leg injury has improved dramatically since then, and he was a full participant at Saturday's morning skate. Ekman-Larsson has four goals, 16 assists, 40 hits and 26 blocked shots over 30 appearances this season.
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Maple Leafs' Dennis Hildeby: Slated to start Saturday
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Hildeby is expected to patrol the home crease versus Edmonton on Saturday, according to Dave McCarthy of NHL.com.
Hildeby will make his fourth straight start, as Anthony Stolarz (upper body) and Joseph Woll (lower body) are both out of action. Hildeby is 2-2-3 over 10 appearances this season. He will face the Oilers, who are fifth in NHL scoring, averaging 3.32 goals per game.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Missing practice Saturday
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Nylander is away from practice Saturday because of an illness.
Nylander snapped out of a four-game pointless streak Thursday, garnering a pair of assists. The 29-year-old has 11 goals and 23 assists across 26 games this season. He should be considered a game-time decision against the Oilers on Saturday.
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Maple Leafs' Dakota Joshua: Not at practice Saturday
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Joshua (illness) is not at morning practice Saturday.
Joshua should be a game-time decision. He has five goals and four assists across 29 games this season. The flu bug could be going through the Maple Leafs' dressing room as William Nylander is also absent from practice due to an illness.
Maple Leafs' Marshall Rifai: Could return Saturday
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Rifai (wrist) could make his season debut Saturday against the Oilers, Lance Hornby of The Toronto Sun reports Friday.
Rifai is currently on long-term injured reserve, as he underwent wrist surgery during training camp. The 27-year-old blueliner played a pair of games with the Maple Leafs during the 2023-24 campaign, but he has otherwise been a career minor leaguer. The Maple Leafs are really hurting on the blue line, and they may be forced to use Rifai if Oliver Ekman-Larsson (lower body) is unable to play Saturday.
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Maple Leafs' Chris Tanev: Getting second opinion
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Tanev will seek a second opinion for his upper-body issue, Lance Hornby of The Toronto Sun reports Friday.
The news doesn't provide much clarity regarding Tanev's eventual return to action, but fantasy players should probably expect the blueliner to miss at least another week, if not longer. The Leafs should be getting some reinforcements on the blue line in the form of Marshall Rifai (wrist). Still, Tanev's continued absence doesn't bode well for the team's ability to limit opportunities in front of the netminders.
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Maple Leafs' Brandon Carlo: Recovering from surgery
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The Maple Leafs announced Friday that Carlo underwent foot surgery Dec. 3 and will be sidelined indefinitely, Lance Hornby of The Toronto Sun reports.
Carlo has been sidelined since mid-November due to a lower-body issue, and he suffered a setback in his recovery around early December. He was already slated to miss extended time following his absence, and it's now been revealed that he underwent a procedure on his foot that is expected to sideline him until approximately early January, per Dave McCarthy of NHL.com.
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Maple Leafs' Joseph Woll: Not expected to play Saturday
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Woll (lower body) said Friday that he's feeling better but doesn't expect to play Saturday against Edmonton, David Alter of The Hockey News reports.
Woll is eligible to return from injured reserve for Saturday's matchup, but it appears as though he'll require at least one more game on the shelf due to his lower-body injury. Assuming he's sidelined against the Oilers, his next opportunity to suit up would be Tuesday against Chicago.
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Maple Leafs' Oliver Ekman-Larsson: Could play Saturday
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Ekman-Larsson (lower body) is expected to see how he feels during Saturday's morning skate and could face the Oilers, Darren Dreger of TSN reports Friday.
Ekman-Larsson needed help off the ice Thursday against San Jose, and it appeared that he could not put any pressure on his leg at the time. Ekman-Larsson will go through practice, and a determination will be made ahead of game time. Ekman-Larsson has four goals and 20 points across 30 games this season.
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Maple Leafs' Bobby McMann: Back from suspension
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McMann served his one-game suspension Thursday and will return to the lineup Saturday against Edmonton.
McMann missed the contest against San Jose for high-sticking Oliver Bjorkstrand of the Lightning on Monday. McMann has eight goals, six assists and 67 hits over 29 games this season. Look for Nicholas Robertson as the likely candidate to come out of the lineup due to the return of McMann.
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Maple Leafs' Dakota Joshua: Opens scoring Thursday
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Joshua scored a goal on two shots, added two PIM and logged four hits in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Sharks.
Joshua continues to be an effective bottom-six forward, providing grit and a little depth scoring. He has three goals and a helper, as well as 25 hits, over his last six games. For the year, he's at nine points, 25 shots, 23 PIM, 99 hits, 23 blocked shots and a minus-2 rating over 29 appearances.
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Maple Leafs' Dennis Hildeby: Unlucky loss to Sharks
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Hildeby made 29 saves in a 3-2 overtime loss to San Jose on Thursday.
Hildeby made several great saves, including stoning Ty Dellandrea on a first period penalty shot to keep the game scoreless. Hildeby did his best in the third when the Sharks outshot the Maple Leafs 11-5, but John Klingberg notched the tying goal at 18:35 with the extra attacker on the ice. Hildeby is 1-0-2 in three starts over the last six days, including one shutout win and just four total goals allowed.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: First points in five games
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Nylander had two assists Thursday in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Sharks.
Nylander had been held without a point in each of his past four games. Overall, he has 11 goals, 23 assists and 56 shots in 26 games this season. Nylander is capable of racking up plenty of points, and it was encouraging to see him snap his recent skid Thursday.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Pace finally quickening
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Matthews scored a power-play goal in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Sharks.
Matthews made it 2-0 at 14:32 of the second period when he one-timed a cross-ice pass from William Nylander below the right circle. It ended a streak of 0-for-12 and 2-for-28 for the Maple Leafs with the man advantage. Matthews has a goal in each of his last two games and three in his last four outings (20 shots). He's been held off the scoresheet just once in his last seven games (four goals, three assists; 31 shots).
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Maple Leafs' Oliver Ekman-Larsson: Needs further evaluation
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Ekman-Larsson sustained a lower-body injury versus the Sharks on Thursday and will need further evaluation to determine how long he'll be out, David Alter of The Hockey News reports.
Ekman-Larsson needed help off the ice after the injury, which doesn't bode well for his availability versus the Oilers on Saturday. The 34-year-old defenseman's status won't be updated until his injury has been fully evaluated. Philippe Myers will likely play if Ekman-Larsson misses time.
Rielly (illness) will play Thursday versus San Jose, according to Dave McCarthy of NHL.com.
Rielly was questionable after missing Wednesday's practice, but he won't miss a game due to the illness. The 31-year-old is expected to serve on the top pairing alongside Oliver Ekman-Larsson versus the Sharks. Rielly should also feature on the top power-play unit.
