"Losing Oliver Ekman-Larsson is a significant setback for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He exited Thursday's game against the San Jose Sharks with a lower-body injury and did not return. Head coach Craig Berube confirmed the team will re-evaluate him, but there's no clear timeline for his return yet. Ekman-Larsson has been one of Toronto's most relied-on defensemen, often playing big minutes and contributing offensively. With other key defenders already sidelined, the Leafs must adjust quickly to stay competitive."
"Without Ekman-Larsson, Morgan Rielly must carry even more of the workload. Rielly already sees top-pair minutes and drives a lot of the Leafs' transition game. His ability to move the puck and break pressure will be crucial in limiting extended defensive zone time. Jake McCabe, if he's available, also becomes essential. McCabe has missed time due to an upper-body injury but remains a steady presence on the blue line."
Oliver Ekman-Larsson left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury and did not return, with no clear timeline for his recovery. Ekman-Larsson has been a heavily relied-on defenseman, playing large minutes and contributing offensively, and his absence compounds existing defensive injuries. Morgan Rielly must absorb more workload and drive transition, while Jake McCabe, if available, should handle tougher minutes and matchups. Depth defenders such as Philippe Myers, Dakota Mermis (if healthy), and Henry Thrun need to make clean breakouts, limit turnovers, and play physically. Error-free, low-risk defense will be essential while forwards support transition and defensive coverage.
Read at Editor In Leaf
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]