Injuries add up as season winds down
Marner, Järnkrok and Lyubushkin among Toronto players set to miss action this week
More uncertainty around Mitch Marner’s injury, no Calle Järnkrok and now no Ilya Lyubushkin.
It was just another day in the Maple Leafs infirmary, including an illness that will likely keep defenceman Lyubushkin out of Tuesday’s game in Philadelphia, and probably Wednesday’s in Washington as well. That means Simon Benoit will draw back into the lineup after three games as a healthy scratch.
Marner was expected to skate Monday — at least on his own — but wasn’t on the ice. The team hasn’t disclosed details of the injury, but it’s believed to be a high-ankle sprain.
“It hasn’t been responding the way they had hoped,” coach Sheldon Keefe said of Marner’s injury and the team’s medical staff. “So just stepping back a little bit.
“He’s not going to be coming on the trip with us. Just trying to get him to the point where he’s comfortable throughout the week. So he’s day-to-day away from being day-to-day.”
Through all the roster upheaval — and the longer-than-anticipated absence of Marner — Keefe is trying to see the bright side.
“Regarding Mitch being out, it creates more opportunity for others to play and to grow. For us, we can learn more about them,” said Keefe.
“And, at the same time for someone like Mitch specifically, who hasn’t had really any time off, in the long run for him ... as much as we miss him, I think it’ll be beneficial to him when he does get back.”
For now, the No. 1 line has Auston Matthews centring Tyler Bertuzzi and Pontus Holmberg. Matthews has two goals and one assist in five games without Marner. That’s an OK total for some players, but not Matthews. His pace has dropped from a potential 70-goal season to 68.
“There’s more pucks available for Auston to be the driver and to be the facilitator for others,” said Keefe. “And, at the same time, it’s about finding the chemistry with those guys, to have them know when he’s available by communicating more. There is less of that sense that someone like Mitch has, of where Auston is and where to find him. It will be different with those guys, so we’re working through that.”
How long Marner will be out is anyone’s guess, but given the nature of high-ankle sprains it’s no surprise they’re taking their time with him.
As for Järnkrok, whose hand was in a cast, the Leafs moved him to long-term injured reserve. Players on LTIR must miss at least10 games and 24 days, meaning he’d be eligible to play again April 6 in Montreal. More likely, though, Järnkrok will miss the rest of the regular season, given the Leafs used part of his $2.1 million (U.S.) in salary-cap space to activate defenceman Conor Timmins off LTIR.
For now, Benoit is the beneficiary of Lyubushkin’s ice time and expected to pair up with Jake McCabe. In Keefe’s eyes, the recent healthy scratches should motivate Benoit.
“I expect him to be a little bit better, quite honestly, just because he’s now stepped back from the lineup and watched. And that’s motivating in and of itself,” said Keefe. “He’s done a really good job for us. We like a lot of things that he’s brought to us, but I don’t think the last little stretch he has been as good as he was at different points in the season.
“When you get a chance to step back, recharge and energize, I think when you come back in the lineup you expect to have a little bit more.”
Benoit’s time off coincided with the arrival of Joel Edmundson. The Leafs now have more depth on the blue line, and players fighting for ice time.
“It keeps everybody on edge,” said Benoit. “It brings out the best of us. Just makes the team better.”