The Toronto Maple Leafs’ centre depth will face one other check this season as John Tavares was positioned on injured reserve on Thursday. The Leafs are calling his damage “decrease physique.”
Leafs head coach Craig Berube referred to as Tavares’ absence “week to week” on Thursday.
Rookie centre Fraser Minten was recalled from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies in a corresponding transfer.
The Leafs introduced the strikes earlier than the workforce’s elective morning skate. They may face the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, with former head coach Sheldon Keefe returning to Toronto for the primary time as Devils coach.
Maple Leafs F John Tavares has been positioned on IR (decrease physique).
F Fraser Minten has been recalled from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) January 16, 2025
During Wednesday’s practice, Tavares acquired awkwardly tied up with Chris Tanev. His left leg gave the impression to be by chance pulled onto the ice by Tanev whereas the Leafs have been in the midst of a power-play drill. Tavares fell and stayed on the ice along with his head down for just a few seconds. He struggled to stand up earlier than shaking his proper leg after which instantly leaving the ice with none help.
The Leafs centre is now ineligible to play for seven days. He’ll miss not less than 4 video games and the earliest he may return is Jan. 25 in opposition to the Ottawa Senators. But Berube’s evaluation means that return date can be optimistic.
Tavares’ well being has change into a dependable component of his tenure in Toronto. He’s missed solely seven video games over the earlier 4 seasons, and his solely absence this season was on account of sickness.
The 34-year-old is in the midst of his greatest season in current reminiscence. His 1.49 targets per 60 minutes is second on the Leafs solely to William Nylander. He appeared set to flirt with scoring 40 targets for the primary time since 2018-19.
Minten stored his head above water throughout his 11-game stint with the Leafs earlier this season. The defensively minded ahead had two targets and 4 factors whereas adhering to Berube’s construction somewhat nicely. Within the AHL, the 20-year-old has been one of many Marlies’ greatest gamers. He’s often dealt with sturdy matchups in a top-six position whereas working in time on each particular groups. Minten has 5 targets and 10 assists in 16 video games.
However Minten will probably function in a bottom-six position within the NHL. Different dominos will fall down the center of the ice in Tavares’ absence.
Max Domi is in the midst of a manufacturing drought, with one help in his final six video games largely because the Leafs’ third-line centre. Berube has publicly referred to as for Domi to shoot the puck extra and change into extra bodily concerned. May Tavares’ absence and probably extra ice time present Domi the spark he wants to begin producing extra?
Pontus Holmberg has been out and in of the lineup. Greatest suited to a fourth-line position, the 25-year-old centre has did not put his stamp on video games. Tavares’ absence may see Holmberg get his most significant alternative of the season. Holmberg will draw into the Leafs lineup on Thursday in opposition to the Devils.
David Kampf has discovered his recreation recently on an efficient fourth line alongside Connor Dewar and Steven Lorentz. But it’s doable that Kampf or Dewar, who can play centre, will transfer greater up the lineup in Tavares’ absence.
Lastly, what if Tavares’ break day the ice turns right into a prolonged spell? May exterior assist change into an choice? Brad Treliving received’t need to deal from a spot of weak spot. However may an prolonged absence for Tavares trigger the Leafs’ normal supervisor to additional discover the commerce marketplace for a centre nicely earlier than the March 7 commerce deadline?
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(Photograph: Bruce Bennett / Getty Pictures)
