NHL Buzz: Marner returns to practice with Maple Leafs

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Toronto Maple Leafs

Mitch Marner participated in his first full practice since sustaining a high ankle sprain in a 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on March 7, but is expected to miss at least the next two games.

“Mitch looked good today,” coach Sheldon Keefe said. “In terms of the step for him I would say it’s just further participation in practice, which we won’t have another practice again until Tuesday. Once we get into that territory you start to think about when to put him back in, but we are not there yet.”

The forward, who has 76 points (25 goals, 51 assists) in 62 games, has missed the past nine games because of the injury. The Maple Leafs will visit the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Arena on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+, SNP, SNO, CBC) before hosting the Florida Panthers on Monday.

Marner was placed on long-term injured reserve Saturday retroactive to March 7, allowing defenseman Marshall Rifai to be recalled from Toronto of the American Hockey League.

“It’s close, just take it day by day, just keep progressing the right way and be ready when the time comes,” Marner said. “We’re all competitive in here, we don’t want to miss games especially this late in the season so you can look at it that way (getting some rest before playoffs) and that’s how I’ve been trying to look at it.”

Defenseman Morgan Rielly did not practice Friday and will not play against the Sabres. He remains day to day with an upper-body injury.

Defenseman Timothy Liljegren, who did not play in a 5-1 win against the Washington Capitals on Thursday, is week to week with an upper-body injury.

Toronto also signed Simon Benoit to a three-year, $4.05 million contract ($1.35 million average annual value).

The 25-year-old defenseman has five points (one goal, four assists) in 54 games with Toronto this season. He signed with the Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent Aug. 28, 2023. -- Dave McCarthy

Pittsburgh Penguins

Ryan Graves is out indefinitely with a concussion.

The defenseman missed the final two periods of a 3-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday. He will not play when the Penguins again face the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, BSOH).

Graves has primarily split time on the top two defense pairs this season, next to either Kris Letang or Erik Karlsson. He worked with rookie defenseman Jack St. Ivany on the third pair Thursday. Graves has 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 70 games this season.

John Ludvig, a fellow rookie, could replace Graves next to St. Ivany.

“I think they’ve played pretty well for us,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think Jack has played really well in the time that he’s been here. I think his mobility is one of his strengths. He defends really well, he was a good stick.

"And I think ‘Luds’ has made big strides. ... Just his ability to process the game in a more-timely fashion, I think, is an important aspect of his overall growth and development.” -- Wes Crosby

Vegas Golden Knights

Alex Pietrangelo could return when the Golden Knights visit the Minnesota Wild on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+).

The 34-year-old defenseman has missed the past six games with an illness but joined the team for an optional skate at Xcel Energy Center on Friday. He has 32 points (four goals, 28 assists) in 62 games.

“He’s skating today. So that’s good news,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “If everything goes well, then we’ll anticipate he’ll go tomorrow.

“He’s got to get through today, so we’ll call it a game-time because that’s when we’ll officially decide.”

Forward William Carrier is day to day with an upper-body injury and will miss his third straight game. He has eight points (six goals, two assists) and 90 hits in 39 games. -- Jessi Pierce

New York Rangers

Defenseman Jacob Trouba could return when the Rangers visit the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday (6 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, MSG).

The New York captain has missed 11 games since March 4 with a lower-body injury and resumed practicing earlier this week.

“We’re still working through some things with him,” coach Peter Laviolette said after an optional skate Friday.

Trouba has a 23-game goal drought, last scoring Jan. 4 against the Chicago Blackhawks. He went 14 games without a goal prior to that.

Trouba has 22 points (three goals, 19 assists) in 60 games this season. He scored eight goals while playing all 82 games last season.

If Trouba does not play, defenseman Zac Jones is expected to remain in the lineup. Defenseman Erik Gustafsson has missed the past two games with an upper-body injury and won’t play Saturday. -- Alan Robinson

Vancouver Canucks

Elias Lindholm remains day to day with an undisclosed injury, but Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said he isn’t worried that his third-line center could be out long term.

Lindholm missed practice Wednesday after not playing in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. He did not play in a 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday and does not have a timetable to return, according to Tocchet.

“I'm not really concerned,” Tocchet said. “I think it's just something a little nagging that's getting better every day. That's the way you've got to look at it.”

Tocchet was then asked about a report by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet on Saturday that said Lindholm will be meeting with a specialist later this week and if that meant he could be out longer term.

“Not to the best of my knowledge," Tocchet said. "I'd say no."

Lindholm, who was acquired in a trade with the Calgary Flames on Jan. 31, has 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in 71 games this season, including nine points (five goals, four assists) in 22 games with the Canucks. -- Kevin Woodley

New York Islanders

Scott Mayfield had season-ending surgery but is expected to be ready for the start of the 2024-25 season.

The defenseman last played in a 4-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 22, when he has one shot on goal in 15:24 of ice time. He was placed on long-term injured reserve March 5 when Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said that Mayfield would be shut down for 4-6 weeks before a decision would be made regarding surgery.

Mayfield previously missed seven games with a lower-body injury from Oct. 17-30, and eight games with an upper-body injury from Dec. 13-29.

He had five assists in 41 games this season, averaging 18:46 of ice time per game. -- Stefen Rosner