With several injuries on Toronto's blueline, Benoit has been thrust into a larger role lately. The 27-year-old defenseman is averaging 18:02 time-on-ice and has two assists in 23 games this season. The Maple Leafs return to action on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers.
Max Domi will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Washington Capitals, allowing Maccelli to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Maccelli was signed in the offseason to lessen the blow of losing Mitch Marner, but Maccelli has not been able to contribute anywhere near Marner's elite rate. Maccelli has nine points (4G / 5A) in 21 games this season.
For the first time this season, veteran Max Domi will be a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old forward has only six points (3G / 3A) in 23 games this season and has only two assists in his last 12 outings. Matias Maccelli draws into the lineup as Domi’s replacement.
Stolarz, originally considered day-to-day, has been sidelined since suffering an upper-body injury on November 11th. The team has not revealed concrete details about his injury, but this latest development suggests he is not close to returning. The 31-year-old Stolarz struggled before his injury, posting a 3.51 GAA and .884 SV% in 13 games (6-5-1). Expect Joseph Woll to continue seeing most of the action while Stolarz is sidelined.
Woll is coming off his best performance of the season, saving 35 of 36 shots (.972 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime win over the Blue Jackets. He returns to the crease on Friday against a Washington Capitals team on a two-game winning streak, looking to get his record above .500 for the first time this season. The 27-year-old netminder has a 2.74 GAA and .914 SV% in five games this season (2-2-1).
Nylander is battling an illness and will miss his fourth game of the season after only missing one game in his previous four seasons combined. The 29-year-old Nylander is leading the Maple Leafs offensively with 31 points (11G / 20A) in 20 games. The Maple Leafs will likely welcome a defenseman back onto their top powerplay unit with the absence of Nylander.
With Anthony Stolarz currently injured, Joseph Woll will make a fifth consecutive start on Wednesday as Toronto heads to Columbus. The 27-year-old returned to the Maple Leafs on November 15th and has experienced an up-and-down week since returning, with his 1-2-1 record, 3.27 GAA, and .905 SV%. He will take on Columbus on the road on Wednesday, who had lost their last two games and are ranked 24th in the NHL in goals per game (2.87).
Quillan made his NHL debut last season, playing one game with the Maple Leafs, but has predominantly played at the AHL level. The undrafted 23-year-old forward has impressed with the Marlies (AHL) this season, scoring 14 points (2G / 12A) in 14 games.
With several notable players returning from injury, Joshua will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch for the first time as a Maple Leaf. The 29-year-old Joshua has five points (2G / 3A), 69 hits, and -8 plus/minus in 22 games this season.
With several notable players returning from injury, Maccelli will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Maccelli was signed in the offseason to lessen the blow of losing Mitch Marner, but Maccelli has not been able to contribute anywhere near Marner's elite rate. Maccelli has nine points (4G / 5A) in 21 games this season.
Matthews has not played since suffering a lower-body injury from a Nikita Zadorov hit two weeks ago, but has been practicing for a week and will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old Matthews has not been as dynamic as in previous seasons, but his goal-scoring prowess has been greatly missed by a Maple Leafs team that has lost seven of its last eight games (1-4-3). Matthews has 14 points (9G / 5A) through 17 games. Expect him to play on a line with Matthew Knies, who is also returning from a multi-game absence due to an injury.
Matthew Knies joins Auston Matthews (lower body) as a key offensive piece returning to the lineup on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Maple Leafs have lost seven of their last eight (1-4-3) and will be eager to re-insert Knies into their lineup. The 23-year-old Knies had a breakthrough 2024-25 season and is already on pace to crush his career-bests, with 22 points (5G / 17A) in 19 games this season.
