Now that Willie’s back, let the strategizing begin

TORONTO — Willie, or won’t he? Mike Babcock wasn’t saying. The Maple Leafs coach wasn’t about to give away his plans for William Nylander, with Toronto about to face the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, and a schedule that shows four of the next five games after that on the road.

The picture with Nylander cleared up somewhat Monday when GM Kyle Dubas freed up a roster spot by trading the popular Josh Leivo to Vancouver for prospect forward and Ajax native Michael Carcone.

But what to do with Nylander? Restore him to his former line with Auston Matthews, and keep Kaspari Kapanen on that line, which would automatically become a very swift unit that very few National Hockey League teams could match up against?

Start Nylander on a lower line, say, with the versatile Nazem Kadri, and let him work his way back up to the top six?

Babcock wouldn’t say, but it’s likely Nylander returns immediately to the top six, depending on his fitness and other results from his physicals.

At the moment, though, there’s still some small indecision as to when Nylander will make his season debut.

“We’ll see, find out results (from the physicals) and make sure he’s OK,” Babcock said about Nylander’s return.

Those physicals, normally a routine procedure in training camp, are an underlying concern for the coaching staff and Nylander.

He hasn’t played or practised in an NHL-level atmosphere since last spring. And, while he has certainly kept in shape, his results need to be on par with his career baseline numbers.

With Nylander not playing in Buffalo on Tuesday, a target date could be Thursday’s home game against Detroit. The Leafs then play their next four games on the road, starting with a tilt Saturday in Boston.

It’s likely Nylander is afforded one — and probably two — practices before he makes his debut. When he does, it’s also likely he’s restored with Matthews.

“I don’t know who he plays with, but he’s such a good player, I don’t expect it to take too long for him to get back,” Matthews said Monday.

“It doesn’t matter for (Nylander) who he plays with, he has the skill and talent … he works hard, he makes plays … we have skill up and down our lineup, so he can play anywhere,” added Matthews, who certainly acknowledged that he and Nylander had sound chemistry on their line last season.

Matthews was among a group of Leaf players who greeted Nylander when he flew into Toronto on Sunday.

It was apparent all were happy that he signed a new contract; Nylander also fit very well into the youth-driven dressing room, which will only make his return smoother, and the Leafs a better team.

“I did a ‘make it rain’ dance on him when I saw him,” Leafs winger Mitch Marner said, laughing.

“We gave him a big hug, and we’re excited he signed his new contract. We’re all happy to have him back.”

Leivo, meanwhile, is expected to make an impact in Vancouver, and possibly play in the top-six forwards group.

The popular winger was the most ready trade choice, with the Leafs needing to open a roster spot for Nylander.

Carcone, 22, a free-agent signing by the Canucks in 2016, had six goals and 11 assists for Vancouver’s American Hockey League affiliate in Utica.