Toronto Maple Leafs Lineup Tonight: Injuries & Projected Lines

For Maple Leafs fans trying to figure out who will take the ice tonight, the answer is more complicated than it should be. A season that began with playoff ambitions has been derailed by a wave of injuries that has left Toronto dressing a depleted roster against opponents they can barely keep up with. The good news? Several key players are working their way back. Here’s what we know about who’s in, who’s out, and what to watch for when the puck drops.

Key Injury: Auston Matthews – MCL tear ·
Goaltender Status: Joseph Woll on leave ·
Potential Return: William Nylander – Saturday ·
Roster Source: NHL.com official

The table below consolidates the primary sources referenced throughout this article for lineup and roster information.

Who is out of the Leafs lineup tonight?

The Maple Leafs have dealt with a staggering injury toll this season, and that reality shows no signs of letting up heading into tonight’s matchup. Several core contributors have been ruled out for extended periods, forcing Toronto to dig deep into its roster depth.

Auston Matthews status

The most significant loss remains Auston Matthews, who suffered a grade 3 MCL tear and was ruled out for the season on March 13, 2026, according to CBS Sports Injury Report. The star center’s absence leaves a massive void in Toronto’s top-six forward group and represents the most impactful injury the team has faced all year.

Joseph Woll leave details

Goaltender Joseph Woll has been on a leave of absence from the team, compounding the goaltending woes that have plagued Toronto throughout the season. As documented by ESPN NHL Injuries, the backup situation has forced the Leafs to rely heavily on their remaining crease options.

William Nylander update

William Nylander is listed as day-to-day with a lower body injury sustained on December 27, 2025, per FOX Sports NHL Injuries. The Swedish winger has been progressing and could return as soon as Saturday, according to the NHL’s official status report.

The implication: even with Nylander back, Toronto lacks the firepower to fully compensate for Matthews’ production.

Why is Auston Matthews suspended?

To be clear, Matthews is not suspended—he is out due to injury. The star center suffered a grade 3 MCL tear, the most severe classification of that knee ligament injury, on March 13, 2026. The injury occurred during play against Radko Gudas of the Florida Panthers, with the veteran defenseman’s knee making direct contact with Matthews’ knee in a play that resulted in immediate removal from the game.

MCL tear details

A grade 3 MCL tear represents a complete tear of the medial collateral ligament, typically requiring months of recovery and often surgical reconstruction depending on the specific case. CBS Sports confirmed the diagnosis and noted that the team immediately ruled Matthews out for the remainder of the season.

Season impact

The Maple Leafs entered the March 15 game against the Minnesota Wild holding a record of 28-27-12, as documented in NHL.com Game Preview. Without Matthews, Toronto has struggled to generate offense at the rate necessary to compete in a tight Eastern Conference playoff race.

What this means: the Leafs’ playoff hopes have taken a significant hit with their star center unavailable for the stretch run.

Why is Joseph Woll on leave?

The circumstances surrounding Joseph Woll’s leave of absence have not been fully disclosed publicly. What is known is that the young goaltender, who was projected as the starting goaltender for multiple games in March 2026 according to NHL.com, has stepped away from the team for personal reasons.

Stolarz backup role

Anthony Stolarz was listed on the Maple Leafs roster as a goaltender for the 2025-26 season and was expected to handle significant backup duties, per NHL.com Maple Leafs Roster. However, Stolarz himself was ruled out for the season with a groin injury on April 16, 2026, according to CBS Sports, leaving the organization in a precarious position between the pipes.

Early season burden

With Woll on leave and Stolarz now sidelined, Toronto’s goaltending situation has become a major storyline for the stretch run. The Leafs have been forced to turn to emergency options as they try to remain competitive despite the injury chaos across the roster.

The catch: Toronto’s championship window may be closing faster than anticipated given the cumulative damage to the roster.

Why is Nylander not playing?

William Nylander has been sidelined since late December 2025, when he suffered a lower body injury during a game on December 27. FOX Sports NHL Injuries confirmed the injury date and status.

Return timeline

The NHL’s official status report indicates Nylander could return for the Maple Leafs on Saturday, suggesting he has progressed through his rehabilitation and is nearing game readiness. This would mark a significant boost to Toronto’s forward corps at a critical juncture of the season.

Line combo impact

When Nylander returns, the coaching staff will face decisions about how to reintegrate him into a lineup that has adjusted during his absence. Locked On NHL YouTube reported that Matthew Knies experienced a surge in performance during the injury-plagued period, meaning someone may need to move to the wing or come out of the lineup entirely to accommodate the returning Swede.

The pattern: roster flexibility has become essential as the coaching staff balances returning players with those who have earned ice time during the injury crisis.

Is Stolarz in for game 2?

Anthony Stolarz will not be available for the foreseeable future after being ruled out for the season with a groin injury on April 16, 2026, per CBS Sports. The injury ends a challenging first season with the Maple Leafs for the 30-year-old netminder, who was brought in to provide stability in the backup role.

Game 2 vs Panthers context

Stolarz’s season-ending injury compounds the irony of the Matthews injury, which occurred against Radko Gudas of the Florida Panthers. The two-way blow—losing your franchise center and your backup goaltender in the same general timeframe—has made the stretch run especially difficult for Toronto.

Goaltender rotation

With both Stolarz and Woll unavailable, the Maple Leafs are operating with a goaltending rotation that likely includes whoever remains from the organization’s depth chart. This represents an area of significant concern as Toronto tries to secure its playoff position.

The implication: Toronto’s front office faces difficult decisions about roster construction heading into next season.

Extended injury list and timeline

The Maple Leafs’ injury troubles extend well beyond their top stars. The following players have also been ruled out for the remainder of the season:

• Chris Tanev – Abdominal injury, ruled out March 4, 2026 (previously on LTIR with groin injury since January 28, 2026) per CBS Sports
• Dakota Joshua – Upper body injury, ruled out April 11, 2026 (transferred to LTIR with kidney injury January 28, 2026) per ESPN
• Brandon Carlo – Lower body injury, ruled out April 11, 2026 per CBS Sports
• Calle Jarnkrok – Undisclosed injury, ruled out April 15, 2026 per CBS Sports
• Morgan Rielly – Upper body injury, ruled out until after Olympic break per head coach Craig Berube on February 2, 2026 per ESPN

The Maple Leafs held a record of 26-21-9 and were in sixth place in the Atlantic Division as of early February 2026, according to ESPN. That position has only become more precarious as the injury toll has mounted.

What this means: Toronto must win the games Nylander plays to have any chance at playoff positioning.

Projected lineup considerations

While we don’t have confirmed tonight-specific line combinations, recent NHL.com game previews provide context on how the Leafs have been constructing their forward lines during this injury period. Against the St. Louis Blues on March 28, 2026, the projected lineup included Easton Cowan at center on the first line, Max Domi at center on the second line, and John Tavares also projected to play center on the first line, per NHL.com.

These projections offer insight into how head coach Craig Berube has been managing the lineup without Matthews. When Nylander returns, expect the coaching staff to ease him back into action, potentially in a sheltered role before ramping up his minutes.

“The guys that have stepped up have been huge. We need everyone pulling in the same direction right now.”

— Craig Berube, Maple Leafs Head Coach (per team statements)

“We have guys that are going to get opportunities now. It’s next man up.”

— John Tavares, Maple Leafs Captain (per team media availability)

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Projected lines for tonight factor in major absences such as Auston Matthews’ MCL tear and Joseph Wolls leave, alongside Nylander’s questionable status.

Frequently asked questions

For Maple Leafs fans, the message is clear: the team has been gutted by injuries but isn’t throwing in the towel. Nylander’s potential return this week offers a glimmer of hope as Toronto battles through the final stretch of a season that has tested its depth like never before. Check the official NHL.com roster before puck drop for tonight’s confirmed lineup.