As is normally the case with the Toronto Maple Leafs, there can never simply be a stretch of good news without something bad coming up. The Leafs 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks was overshadowed by an injury to winger Wayne Simmonds late in the third period.
Simmonds (who has five goals in 12 games) had a pair of goals on Saturday, and based on his excellent play had been moved up to the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander, but after the game head coach Sheldon Keefe was uncertain of the veteran’s status, saying he was still getting evaluated by the club’s medical staff.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman tweeted on Sunday that Simmonds could be out as long as six weeks with a hand injury, making the third Toronto forward to get injured in just a dozen games. Veteran Joe Thornton and rookie Nick Robertson were injured last month and are skating, but are not expected to be available for at least anoher week.
TVA’s Renaud Lavoie reported that the Leafs had placed forward Scott Sabourin on waivers. The 28-year-old winger played 35 games for Ottawa last season and was signed to an AHL deal in October. Waivers would not be necessary for Sabourin unless he had been signed to an NHL contract and Toronto was looking to get him to the taxi squad. That could be the case if the reports of Simmonds being out long term are true.
A lengthy absence to Simmonds might make the Leafs reported pursuit of forward help that much more of a priority in the next few weeks.
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