Simmonds injury bad news for Leafs
The Wayne Train has been derailed.
Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed some bad news for the club regarding the health of Wayne Simmonds, revealing the winger suffered a broken wrist against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday and will be out of the lineup for at least six weeks.
“Simmer is a big loss for us,” Keefe said on Monday. “He has been playing well. Not just with his play, but he brings a lot to our room in a lot of other areas and that certainly will be missed.”
Simmonds was hurt late in the Leafs’ win on Saturday when a clearing attempt by Canucks defenceman Alexander Edler hit his arm.
There’s no doubt a hole has been created in the Leafs lineup with Simmonds on the sideline. The Scarborough native had been enjoying a fine start with his hometown team after signing a one-year contract in the off-season, scoring five goals and bringing an element of nastiness that the Leafs otherwise don’t have at forward. And, as Keefe indicated, there’s the presence that Simmonds has off the ice that has been appreciated among all of his teammates.
If the prognosis is correct, Simmonds will miss approximately 20 games.
“Wayne has been awesome,” Alex Kerfoot said. “He is a lot of fun to be around in the locker room. He has a lot of experience. Plays hard every day and comes to the rink and is consistent in the way he works.
“He is elite on the power play. The physicality and the mentality he brings every night, we’re going to miss that.”
With the number of Leafs injuries rising, it’s becoming habit for Keefe to offer updates at the start of his daily availability.
Of the five players out — forwards Simmonds, Joe Thornton (rib), Nick Robertson (knee), goalie Jack Campbell (leg) and defenceman Travis Dermott (charley horse) — the closest to returning is Dermott.
After skating on Monday morning, the expectation for Dermott is that he would rejoin his teammates at practice on Tuesday. Dermott has missed the past two games and Keefe said the club is targeting the road game tonight against the Montreal Canadiens for Dermott to return.
Thornton and Robertson skated again on Monday, but won’t be back this week, while Campbell has not been on the ice since he was hurt on Jan. 24 in Calgary and is not close to returning.
“No firm timeline,” Keefe said, referring to Thornton and Robertson. “The fact that they are skating and doing so comfortably is positive. We will see how things go.”
Campbell (retroactive to Jan. 24) and Simmonds (retroactive to Feb. 6) have been placed on long-term injured reserve.