Leafs confirm yet another injury on the blueline; Leafs star winger shifted to defense
The Toronto Maple Leafs entered tonight's game against the Anaheim Ducks already shorthanded on the back end with Morgan RIelly serving his third game of a five-game suspension and Mark Giordano grieving the passing of his father. Conor Timmins is currently sidelined with mono, so the last thing the Leafs needed was another blueliner missing. We can now add another name to the list in William Lagesson, who was forced out of the contest with an upper body injury.
It remains to be seen what the actual cause of his injury was but on his final shift before heading into the locker room, Lagesson was seen out-stretching for a loose puck that just left the offensive zone before having to chase it down.
With the Leafs having just 5 actual defensemen active in Saturday's game, head coach Sheldon Keefe was forced into using forward Mitch Marner as a defender.
The 27-year-old Lagesson has been in and out of the lineup this season but has appeared in 25 games to date. He has averaged 14:53 TOI, has no goals, and 3 assists, with an even rating.
His loss won't affect the Maple Leafs too much tonight with the club ripping the Anaheim Ducks apart with an 8-1 lead through 2 periods. However, if he is out long-term, they will have to make yet another a call-up in the next coming days with the St. Louis Blues on deck on Monday - unless, of course, Morgan Rielly's suspension is reduced to 3 games, allowing him to play on Monday.
