As the 2024-25 NHL season gains momentum, Toronto Maple Leafs fans were greeted with troubling news on Tuesday. The team’s public relations page announced that forward William Nylander missed the latest practice due to illness, sparking speculation. According to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox, head coach Craig Berube mentioned that a bug is circulating through the locker room. When asked about Nylander’s availability for Wednesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Berube said his status is “up in the air.”

Nylander, 28, is a key player for the Maple Leafs, and any missed time would be a significant blow to the lineup. He’s coming off a career-best season, with 90 points in 82 games, and led the team in postseason goals in 2023-24. So far in the new season, Nylander has continued to shine, leading the Leafs with two goals in three games while logging the third-highest minutes among forwards.

While there’s hope for a swift recovery, Maple Leafs fans remain wary. The situation feels eerily familiar after players like Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, and former defenseman T.J. Brodie missed time due to illness last December. With memories of last season’s health issues, Toronto supporters are anxious that the team could be heading down a similar path.

One fan voiced the growing concern: “I’ve never seen a team get hit with so many illnesses. It felt like someone was out sick every night last year.”