The Maple Leafs completed their three game Western Canada road trip with a 4-0 shutout loss to the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena Saturday night, but the result of the game was secondary to the concern over the injury to center Dave Bolland, who suffered a partially severed ankle tendon from a skate cut in the second period.

Bolland was injured and left the game early in the second period after being hit by Vancouver forward Zack Kassian.



According to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, the 27-year-old center was being wheeled out of the Leafs dressing room on a stretcher after the game. In his post game comments, head coach Randy Carlyle compared the injury that suffered by Ottawa defenseman Erik Karlsson last season and indicated that Bolland would undergo surgery tonight to repair the injury.

The severity and extent of the injury will not be known fully until tomorrow at the earliest, but the expectation is that Bolland, a two-time Stanley Cup winner and fourth on the Leafs with six goals, will be out for several weeks.



The injury coupled with Tyler Bozak's placement on LTIR leaves the Leafs precariously thin up the middle, with Nazem Kadri, Jay McClement and Trevor Smith as natural centers.

The Leafs could add current Toronto Marlies forward Jerred Smithson, but the former NHLer would have to be signed to an NHL contract and clear waivers. They also could opt move Phil Kessel or James van Riemsdyk to the middle(both played center in college). With five days before their next game, it is very possible that GM Dave Nonis will look to scan the waiver wire or make a trade to bolster his club up the middle.

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