Van Riemsdyk, Lupul will miss remainder of season for Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs wingers James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul are both done for the season.

The team confirmed early Thursday evening that neither the 26-year-old van Riemsdyk nor the 32-year-old Lupul will play again this season.

Van Riemsdyk broke his left foot in early January and was expected to miss 6-8 weeks. His recovery has taken longer than expected, however, and he remains on crutches with a walking boot.

He is hopeful to begin skating in mid-March, but won't be ready to return before the end of the regular season, which concludes for the Leafs on April 9. He is expected to be ready for the start of next season.

Van Riemsdyk was enjoying perhaps his best all-around NHL season under Leafs coach Mike Babcock before he was injured Jan. 9 in San Jose. He totaled 14 goals and 29 points in 40 games, missing sustained time due to injury for the first time as a Leaf with this most recent injury.

Lupul, meanwhile, continues to be hampered by various injuries. The latest will required him to have sports hernia surgery.

He last played on Feb. 6 before sitting with a "middle-body injury" as the team described it.

Lupul started the season with eight goals in the first 22 games before cooling as injuries began to take their toll. He finishes his fifth full season as a Leaf with 11 goals and 14 points in 46 games.

He has two more years remaining on a five-year contract, missing 27 games last year because of a broken hand and subsequent left knee injury.