In the game versus the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, Mitchell Marner went into the boards late in the second period and seems to be on the edge of injury:

Alternate view at the beginning of this clip:

Marner would leave to the back, then come out, then leave again over the rest of the game.

The Maple Leafs have told us that Marner is “Day-to-Day” and will be reevaluated ahead of Saturday’s game against Ottawa Senators, depending on who makes the call he may get in:

This weekend will be a real test for the Maple Leafs, losing one of their top forwards heading into a crucial game against one of the teams the they’re chasing for an Atlantic playoff spot. The Ottawa Senators are three points ahead of the Leafs with one game in had. Everyone needs to step up their game to make up for the large hole Marner leaves behind.

Marner is leading the Leafs in points (48) and assists (33), sits fourth in goals with William Nylander (15) and is tied with Patrick Laine for the lead in rookie scoring. With Marner out, this is most likely Nikita Soshnikov’s return to the lineup - Josh Leivo took his spot while he was injured, and hasn’t sat again since.

If Leivo or Hyman get moved up to Marner’s spot with Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk, this gives us the fourth line again of Soshikov, Matt Martin, and Ben Smith, unless Sosh is moved up in the lines as well. None of which actually matter because by the second period it’s a free for all. There’s a word when crisis and opportunity strike, and this crisistunity is one where we can evaluate the Maple Leafs current forward depth.

If it’s a bit more serious, the Leafs can rest Marner until Tuesday when the Winnipeg Jets* are in town. This would mean he also misses Sunday’s game against Carolina, but that’s okay, since that team is mostly harmless.