Sheldon Keefe Gives Health Updates On Key Leafs Players

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe updated us on the status of Mitch Marner, Tyler Bertuzzi and Ilya Lyubushkin this morning. Their injuries will determine how Keefe creates the lineup for the next couple of games.

Leafs still missing key players due to injury and illness

Mitch Marner has been out since March 7th as he was diagnosed with a mild high-ankle sprain. Since then, the team has dealt with additional roster complications as Calle Jarnkrok suffered a hand injury against the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this month.




Making matters worse is the fact that the team is currently dealing with an illness that has spread through the locker room. Currently, Tyler Bertuzzi and Ilya Lyubushkin appear to be getting the worst of it as both remain out as of today. Keefe confirmed this morning that Lyubushkin will not play tomorrow but left Bertuzzi's status up in the air, giving him a chance to play, but no guarantees.

Maple Leafs anticipating Marner's return to the lineup

That being said, Marner is the most impactful player currently out of the lineup, no offense to Bertuzzi and Lyubushkin. As such, the team and their fans are highly anticipating his return to the lineup. Sheldon Keefe did give a somewhat promising update on him saying that he is certainly getting better, but it sounds like he is still a ways away from rejoining the team in a full capacity.



Marner may not get as much attention as Matthews and Nylander, but he is still a fundamental part of the Leafs team. The playmaking winger is up to 25 goals and 76 points in 62 games played this season, including some of his best offensive performances of his career. He even set a franchise record early in the season for fastest Leaf to hit 400 career assists.



There's no doubt that anytime an NHL team is missing a player that makes 11 million dollars a year, they are going to notice it. That being said, the team is 3-1-1 in Marner's absence, showing that they can still do well without him. How long this success will last remains a question though. One the Leafs hope they won't have to answer.

Source: Sheldon Keefe provides clarity on the status of 3 key roster players