"On Thursday, veteran defenseman Chris Tanev was placed on IR after suffering an upper-body injury during the Leafs' most recent game against the New Jersey Devils. Just a few hours later, came news that defenseman Morgan Rielly may not be able to suit up for the Leafs' next game against the Buffalo Sabres. Leafs' coach Craig Berube stated that Rielly was "dealing with something" and he didn't know if the longest-serving Leaf would be available for Friday's game in Buffalo, per Terry Koshan of Postmedia."
"In response to the suddenly depleted blue line, the Maple Leafs recalled defenseman Dakota Mermis from their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. The unexpected blow of Rielly's potential absence adds another layer of adversity for the Maple Leafs to overcome as they seek to resolve their early-season woes. Depleted Defense the Latest Concern for Struggling Leafs Until the recent Tanev and Rielly injury news, the Leafs' defense was the one area of the team that could be counted on for stability."
Chris Tanev was placed on injured reserve after sustaining an upper-body injury during the recent game against the New Jersey Devils. Morgan Rielly is dealing with an issue from that same loss and his availability for the next game against the Buffalo Sabres remained uncertain. In response, the Maple Leafs recalled defenseman Dakota Mermis from AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies. The injuries remove stability from the blue line that had produced an eighth-best goals-against per game in 2024-25. The team has experimented with forward combinations, including a top line of Auston Matthews flanked by Bobby McMann and William Nylander, to spark the offense amid early-season struggles.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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