Head coach Mike Babcock announced that an illness to an undisclosed Toronto Maple Leafs player may mean Matt Martin plays Thursday night against the New York Islanders. 

Martin has not played since the Leafs fell 4-2 to the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 22. In that game, he was a minus-2 in just over seven minutes of ice time. 

Despite being a healthy scratch in 13 straight games, Babcock said Martin is still "an important part of our team."

In 47 games so far this season, the 28-year-old has three goals and eight assists. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Islanders before joining the Leafs as a free agent in 2016.

Connor Carrick could also return to the Leafs' lineup tonight in place of Roman Polak, as TSN's Mark Masters notes that the latter stayed out late at the club's optional skate, normally an indicator of sitting out.

Carrick, 23, last played on Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings, but has appeared in just four games this month. He has three goals and seven points in 36 games this season.