Leafs make disastrous announcement regarding one key role player on the team
After an off day on Thursday, the Toronto Maple Leafs returned to practice yesterday before making their way to Winnipeg for their final game before their bye week. During one of their drills, forward Calle Jarnkrok took a shot off of the hand and immediately left the ice.
While leaving the ice, Jarnkrok slammed his glove in frustration which indicated that it likely wasn't going to be just a bump or a bruise. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said following practice that they wouldn't know the extent of the injury until further tests came back. Those tests returned today and revealed that Jarnkrok has a broken knuckle. After their morning skate, Keefe confirmed that Jarnkrok will be week-to-week as he recovers from the injury.
With Jarnkrok out tonight and for the foreseeable future, Ryan Reaves will draw back into the lineup for the first time since mid-December.
Jarnkrok has struggled recently on the offensive side of the puck having scored just twice in January and once in his last 10 games. Through 46 games, the 32-year-old has 10 goals and 19 points this season, but has been a reliable defensive presence on the third line with Max Domi and Nicholas Robertson.
The Leafs will certainly feel the sting of losing Jarnkrok, as he is one of their primary penalty killers among a group that is really struggling to stave off the attack while down a man. Someone is going to need to step up in a big way on the PK while Jarnkrok, one of the team's top defensive forwards, is sidelined.
| POLL | ||
27 JANVIER | 569 ANSWERS Leafs make disastrous announcement regarding one key role player on the team Who will benefit most from Jarnkrok's unfortunate injury? | ||
| Noah Gregor | 44 | 7.7 % |
| Nick Robertson | 369 | 64.9 % |
| Ryan Reaves | 156 | 27.4 % |
| Bobby McMann | 0 | 0 % |
| List of polls | ||
