Max Domi 'Good To Go' Against Oilers, But Could William Nylander Move Back To Center With Maple Leafs?

Nylander skated at center during Friday's practice with Domi missing the skate due to maintenance.

Max Domi missed Toronto Maple Leafs practice on Friday but is expected to be in the lineup when the team hosts the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

The 29-year-old was absent from Maple Leafs practice on Monday due to maintenance, which was also why he missed Toronto's skate on Friday.

"He's obviously fighting through something too," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said on Friday. "But he'll be good to go tomorrow. But it's just maintenance more for him right now."

With Domi absent from practice, William Nylander moved into the middle with Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson on his wings. 

Nylander hasn't played center this season under Berube but took reps during training camp. He's also taken plenty of draws throughout the regular season and has moved into the position at times during games.

The 28-year-old took nine faceoffs — all at even strength — and won 55.6 percent on Wednesday in Toronto's 4-3 comeback win over the Washington Capitals. He's taken 56 faceoffs, 52 at even strength, and has won 51.8 percent.

"Willy, like we talked about center at camp and all that, but what I like about it, he still takes draws. He's still in there, which is good, and that's what he's got to keep doing," Berube said on Friday. 

"He's really good in the faceoff dot. He's like 55 percent on the year, which is good, and he was fine in the middle today. He looked good to me."

Nylander has 12 goals and eight assists for 20 points in 18 games with the Maple Leafs. He's averaged 18:48 of ice time this season under Berube, a minute less than last year. Domi has six assists through 18 games while averaging 15:20 of ice time this season.

Domi, though, hasn't registered a point since Oct. 21 in Toronto's 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"A player like him and players like that, they're going to struggle mentally a little bit with it. But, he had some opportunities last game. It didn't go in, and he's just got to keep fighting through it," Berube said on Friday. 

"He'll be fine. But, obviously, he feels it, and I feel it for him. So, we talk to him about it and he's got to just fight through it and he is right now."