3 More Maple Leafs Injured Ahead of Season Opener
The Toronto Maple Leafs' preseason struggles continue as the team announced that three more players have been sidelined with injuries just days before the start of the regular season.
The trio of banged-up men includes defenseman Jake McCabe as well as forwards Nick Robertson, and Calle Jarnkrok.
Defenseman Jake McCabe is dealing with an upper-body injury, while forward Calle Jarnkrok is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body ailment. Forward Nick Robertson, meanwhile, is also day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
The Leafs provided the update following Friday's practice session, adding some question marks to the availability of those players for Wednesday's season opener against the Montreal Canadiens.
McCabe's absence, in particular, is concerning, as the 30-year-old defenseman has already confirmed he's in talks for a contract extension and is seen as a crucial part of the Leafs' blue line.
Daily Faceoff has him lining up in the second pairing of the Leafs' defense for the regular season.
There's no word yet on the severity of his injury, but the team is expected to play it safe to ensure he's ready for opening night. NHL insider Nick Kypreos mentioned that the Leafs are close to finalizing a new deal with McCabe, possibly before the start of the season.
Jarnkrok's status is also a question mark heading into the Leafs' final preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings scheduled for Saturday and the season opener on Oct. 9.
The Swedish forward has suffered a few minor injuries throughout the preseason, and while he could be a game-time decision on Saturday, the club may choose to hold him out to ensure his availability for the regular season.
Finally, Robertson is facing a setback with his upper-body injury. The Leafs hope it will be a short-term issue as they finalize their roster ahead of the regular season, with Robertson expected to take a role in the Leafs' bottom-six forward corps.
This story was originally published October 5, 2024, 3:00 AM.
