Toronto Maple Leafs
William Nylander skated with the Maple Leafs on Thursday and could play at the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP). The forward has missed seven games with a groin injury sustained against the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 15. “He’s close,” said Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube, who responded “yes” when asked if Nylander was a possibility to play Saturday. Nylander leads the Maple Leafs with 48 points (17 goals, 31 assists) in 37 games and was selected to represent Team Sweden at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
St. Louis Blues
Dylan Holloway was placed on injured reserve by the Blues on Thursday because of a lower-body injury. The forward missed 15 games after injuring his right ankle during practice Dec. 14 before returning to play the Edmonton Oilers on Jan. 18, but hasn’t played since. The 24-year-old has 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 34 games this season.
Buffalo Sabres
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is “going to miss a little bit of time” because of a lower-body injury, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Thursday, but there has been no determination yet whether the goalie will be available to play for Team Finland at the Olympics. Ruff said Luukkonen will be reevaluated in one week. The 26-year-old was injured during the first period of Buffalo’s 7-4 win at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. In 21 games (20 starts) this season, Luukkonen is 11-7-2 with a 2.73 goals-against average and .903 save percentage. “I’d say right now we’re looking at a week and then see where he’s at after that,” Ruff said. “We really haven’t talked about [the Olympics] yet. We don’t want to rule it out or rule it however we have to rule it. Let’s just see where we get by early next week.”