Important update on two injured Maple Leafs
For the second season in a row, the Maple Leafs have had their depth tested early on the blueline. Last season, the team utilized 10-12 different defensemen during the early stages of the 2022-23 campaign and will already be up to 8 different bodies on the blueline in 2023-24 well before the 20-game mark this season, which doesn't include Conor Timmins, who is still on the mend.
Speaking of Timmins, he was one of two injured Leafs who skated on Saturday, alongside fellow injured blueliner Jake McCabe. The pair skated on their own ahead of Maple Leafs practice, with McCabe not expected to play this weekend, but "not far off". Meanwhile, Timmins is not quite close to returning, but is making progress in his recovery. Timmins was injured during the pre-season and has yet to play a regular season game in 2023-24.
We don't yet have an update on the injured Timothy Liljegren, who took a nasty spill into the end boards on Thursday night in Boston, thanks in large to Brad Marchand, who took his feet out, sending him crashing hard into the boards during a puck race.
We are also yet to learn who the Leafs will call up from the Marlies to fill in, though the popular thought seems to be that Simon Benoit will be the next man up.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 4 | 260 ANSWERS Important update on two injured Maple Leafs Should rookie defensemen Topi Niemela or Mikko Kokkonen get a look in the NHL this season? | ||
| Yes | 184 | 70.8 % |
| No, let them cook longer in the AHL | 76 | 29.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
