Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren will miss a “significant” amount of time with a high ankle sprain, the team announced Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Liljegren suffered the injury in Thursday’s shootout loss to the Bruins after Boston forward Brad Marchand lodged his stick between Liljegren’s legs in the first period.
- Liljegren crashed into the boards with his left foot, taking the brunt of the impact, and did not return to the game. No penalty was called on the play.
- The 24-year-old has one assist through 10 games this season.
What this means for Toronto
Losing Liljegren is a big deal for the Leafs. He had quickly assumed a place on their second pair and was showing signs of meaningful growth in his third full NHL season. His absence means that John Klingberg will have to reassume a spot in the top four and play bigger minutes and tougher matchups than he had been getting for the most part this season.
The Leafs are also without Jake McCabe (groin) at the moment, though he should be back at some point next week. In the meantime, 40-year-old Mark Giordano will have to continue to play challenging second-pair minutes alongside Klingberg. The Leafs will also be relying on a fringe-y third pair comprised of two of William Lagesson, Max Lajoie, and Simon Benoit. Klingberg is the key here though. The Leafs need him at his best without Liljegren. — Jonas Siegel, Maple Leafs staff writer
Backstory
Liljegren was seen walking with a limp out of the dressing room and toward the team bus postgame Thursday. He was not wearing a walking boot or using crutches.
Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said referee Wes McCauley didn’t see the stick between Liljegren’s legs in the “most dangerous area of the ice.”
Keefe previously indicated Liljegren would likely miss “significant time,” and said, “We’re not going to know for sure until we get him home and get a picture but it’s not short-term at this point, the way it looks.”
The Leafs are 5-3-2 and host the Buffalo Sabres (5-6-0) on Saturday.
Required reading
(Photo: Dan Hamilton / USA Today)