The results of the MRI to defenseman Roman Polak are not yet in, but the Leafs blueliner is expected be out at least four weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament.
“He’s got a knee issue.” Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said following practice on Monday. “That will be something that will take some time. The initial diagnosis was somewhere around four weeks.”
The 28-year-old has been an integral part of the Leafs penalty killing unit and has three goals and two assists in 21 games, second only to team captain Dion Phaneuf in average TOI(21:06). With Polak out until after Christmas, Toronto has recalled defenseman Korbinian Holzer from the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.
The recall of Holzer was the most likely move, as the German-born defenseman is a right hand shot like Polak, would not necessitate moving Dion Phaneuf to the right side and has prior NHL experience (22 games in 2013) and but prior to the weekend home-and-home with the Bulldogs, Holzer played only one game during the Marlies lengthy road swing and did not play as an emergency recall last Saturday in Buffalo.
Holzer was teamed with Jake Gardiner on Monday, keeping the pairings of Dion Phaneuf-Cody Franson and Morgan Rielly-Stephane Robidas intact and will be depended on to play mostly of a stay-at-home role.
“Just play my game. Keep it simple, be physical like I’ve always been.” Holzer said. ““I got nothing to lose. I’m just coming up here and try to help the team win, that’s what the main focus is.”
Phaneuf did not practice on Monday due to the after effects of a hit from Detroit’s Johan Franzen in the second period of the Leafs 4-1 victory on Saturday , but the Leafs captain is expected to be ready for the game in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
Winger David Booth received a nice 30th birthday present on Monday, as the former 30-goal scorer was recalled by Toronto after completing a two-game conditioning stint with the Marlies over the weekend. The Michigan native scored a goal in the Marlies 2-1 overtime loss to Hamilton on Friday and led the Marlies with seven shots on goal in a 5-1 loss to the Bulldogs on Sunday.
With Booth off of the long-term injury list, forward Josh Leivo has been returned to the Marlies. The 21-year-old played well in a fourth line role with the Leafs, scoring one goal in eight games.
Booth was partnered with Joffrey Lupul and center Trevor Smith on Monday and after given medical clearance, both injured wingers are likely to be in the lineup at Consol Energy Center on Wednesday.
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Former Leafs GM and head coach Pat Quinn passed away in Vancouver on Monday at the age of 71.
The Hamilton, ON native played in the NHL for nine seasons, his first two in Toronto from 1968 to 1970. His most notable accomplishment as a Leaf was a check that knocked Bobby Orr unconscious during a lopsided 10-0 loss at Boston Garden during the 1969 playoffs. He was claimed by Vancouver in the 1970 Expansion Draft and by Atlanta in the 1972 Expansion Draft, playing five years with the Flames before retiring in 1977.
Quinn coached 1400 games with Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Toronto and Edmonton, leading the Flyers to a 35-game unbeaten streak and Stanley Cup Final in 1980 and the Canucks to the 1994 Stanley Cup Final. The big Irishman replaced Mike Murphy as Leafs head coach and led Toronto to the Eastern Conference Final in his first season(1998-1999), losing to the Buffalo Sabres in five games and again in 2002, losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games.
His Toronto win/loss record (300-214-52-8 in 574 games) is second only to Punch Imlach in career wins and games behind the bench and Quinn internationally led Canada to an Olympic gold medal in Salt Lake in 2002, the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, 2008 IIHF World Championship and 2009 World Junior Championship.
Here is an interview with Hockey Night In Canada host George Stroumboulopoulos from back in 2009:
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