Leafs overcome injuries to win
Hyman, Brooks among those to step up against Oilers,
The Maple Leafs placed Joe Thornton on long-term injured reserve with a rib fracture, meaning the high-profile, 41year-old winger won't be available to the team for at least 10 games, or 24 days.
Thornton could be out longer, with Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe suggesting he would be gone at least a month.
“Everyone has to find ways to elevate our games and have as
big an impact as you can,” captain John Tavares said.
Thornton joined rookie Nick Robertson on LTIR, freeing up about $1.5 million in cap space as injuries pose a challenge early in the season to the team's depth and salary cap machinations.
The Leafs, who were close to the salary cap with only 21 players, need the cap relief in the form of LTIR to bring in replacements from the taxi squad.
Forwards Pierre Engvall, Adam Brooks and Alexander Barabanov were added for Friday night's game against the Oilers, a game the Leafs played without Auston Matthews. The star centre was day to day with an undisclosed upper-body injury.
“He's just not feeling right,” said Keefe, who said he is not worried that Matthews will be out long term.
Thornton, however, suffered a rib fracture in the third period on Wednesday.
Thornton has been remarkably durable in his career, playing in 1,641 of a possible 1,741 regularseason games since breaking into the league as a rookie in 1997-98.
Robertson suffered a knee injury in Ottawa on Saturday.