The latest Toronto Maple Leafs injury update shows significant changes ahead of the club’s game against the Florida Panthers on Saturday night.
According to insider Chris Johnston, the Maple Leafs shut down three players for the remainder of the regular season. Defenseman Brandon Carlo, forward Dakota Joshua, and goaltender Anthony Stolarz are all done for the Leafs’ final games this season.
The Maple Leafs injury update isn’t much of a surprise, considering how each of the three players went down during the team’s 4-0 blanking at the hands of the Washington Capitals last Wednesday night.
In particular, Stolarz’s injury came minutes into the game against the Capitals. While making a routine save, Stolarz collapsed to the ice and was unable to get back up without assistance from training staff and teammates.
It has been that kind of season for the Maple Leafs. The club has been riddled with injuries all season long. The overall toll it has taken on the club has been palpable in the standings. Moving forward, Toronto will have a piecemeal lineup as they look to run out the season.
The Maple Leafs injury update did not indicate a timeline for recovery. Nevertheless, it’s reasonable to assume that all three players, should they remain with the club next season, should be ready for the start of training camp in the fall.
Maple Leafs Injury Update to Provide Rookie with an Opportunity
The injury situation will provide rookie William Villeneuve an opportunity to draw into the lineup on Saturday night.
Villeneuve, who was a fourth-round pick for the Maple Leafs in the 2020 NHL Draft, has over 200 AHL games under his belt. As such, the latest Maple Leafs injury update has allowed the rookie blueliner to make his NHL debut.
The 24-year-old will be taking Philippe Myers’ place on the third pairing. Villeneuve should get the call alongside Simon Benoit. Meanwhile, Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson should lead the top pairing. Jake McCabe and Troy Stecher likely suit up in the shutdown pair role.
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Another Leafs Rookie to Get a Look
The most recent Maple Leafs injury update has also provided another rookie with an opportunity to play crucial minutes. Luke Haymes, who was undrafted and signed as an NCAA free agent, will get his second NHL game.
The 22-year-old made his NHL debut on Thursday night against the New York Islanders. He picked up his first point, drawing an assist in the team’s 5-3 loss.
With Maple Leafs injury updates providing little consolation for the club, giving Haymes an audition will be crucial as the organization tries to figure out what to do heading into the offseason.
Having players like Haymes and Villeneuve stand out in this season’s final games could allow the team to forego questionable trades and build from within.
That’s why the final games of this season are more akin to preseason games in which key prospects will get a look as they fight for NHL jobs.
It remains to be seen what Maple Leafs prospects can do with the opportunity they’ve gotten this season.
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