Maple Leafs newcomer O'Reilly out 4 weeks after surgery for broken finger, coach says
Forwards Holmberg, Steeves summoned from minors; Woll loaned to AHL's Marlies
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan O'Reilly is expected to be sidelined four weeks after surgery to stabilize a fractured index finger on his left hand.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe announced the timeline for recovery on Tuesday, one day after O'Reilly was placed on long-term injured reserve.
"Used him in different spots and you can see the impact he can have on our team," Keefe said Monday. "When you get him, you get excited and you know what he can bring so to lose him, certainly, is tough and disappointing, but we've acquired him to be healthy and ready to go for the playoffs and that will be the case.
So, to that end, you know, it's not bad in terms of what the bigger picture is. And, with the nature of the injury, he won't miss much time actually on the ice and skating."
Toronto, which acquired O'Reilly from the St. Louis Blues in a blockbuster trade last month, was injured in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks and subsequently placed on long-term injured reserve.
A player headed to LTIR must miss at least 10 games and 24 days, meaning O'Reilly won't be available until at least the beginning of April.
Tavares to return to lineup Saturday
Keefe said Leafs captain John Tavares (undisclosed) will be held out of the lineup when the team visits the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday to wrap up a five-game road trip, but expects the centre will be ready when the team returns home to face the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
In corresponding moves earlier Monday, the Leafs recalled forwards Pontus Holmberg and Alex Steeves from the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies, and loaned goaltender Joseph Woll to the club's top affiliate.
O'Reilly was acquired along with fellow centre Noel Acciari in a three-team deal to kickstart a roster reconstruction by general manager Kyle Dubas that would later include the additions of defencemen Jake McCabe and Luke Schenn and centre Sam Lafferty.
A 32-year-old from Clinton, Ont., O'Reilly has three goals and five points -- including a four-point night in his third appearance -- in eight games with Toronto.
He was also 84.4 per cent in the faceoff circle through his first seven contests until going 3-for-11 in Vancouver before suffering the injury late in Saturday's second period.
A Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy winner with St. Louis in 2019, O'Reilly also won that season's Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward.
Toronto (38-17-8) currently sits second in the Atlantic Division, five points up on the Tampa Bay Lightning.
WATCH | Pettersson, Miller sink Maple Leafs with short-handed goals:
With files from The Canadian Press
