Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Just as the Maple Leafs were getting healthy, they now have two long-term injuries to two key contributors as the team now needs to adjust their lineup once again.
However, the team is dealing with more injuries right now and they couldn’t have come at worse time. Auston Matthews and William Nylander are out, and while it might not be incredible serious; the dreaded day-to-day moniker has thrown a wrench into things.
Tanev and Joshua: Out for a long-time, and it’s not a good time
But they are also without Chris Tanev and Dakota Joshua and it doesn’t look like they are going to be getting them back anytime soon.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, both Tanev and Joshua are expected to miss significant time with their respective injuries and there is no timeline for either of their returns:
Tanev was injured against Detroit when he blocked a puck and was see gingerly skating afterwards, meanwhile Joshua ended up missing a hit and flying into the boards which led to a very serious kidney injury.
Toronto has to prove they can withstand their injury issues
It would make Tanev’s third major injury of the season after missing over a month with a concussion suffered in early November. He got injured in his return game after being injured the first time – coincidentally against New Jersey.
If he can’t get back on the ice for the time being, it’s going to be once again up to Jake McCabe to hold things down and you’ll likely see Troy Stecher back with him once again.
But right now, the Maple Leafs and Craig Berube are going to need to band together and put in the same effort they had on Tuesday against the Devils.
If not, then we are going to be right back to square one and in for a very long season.
Previously on Hockey Patrol