The Toronto Maple Leafs are without yet another forward. This time, it’s Bobby McMann who exits the lineup. McMann went to the dressing room at some point during the second period in a contest against the Florida Panthers. The Leafs announced that McMann would not return due to a lower-body injury. He suffered a few bangs and knocks in this game, all of them could’ve added up to being forced out. The 28-year-old received a hard hit from Aaron Ekblad and blocked two shots off his leg. One shot by a Panther, and the other by Leafs D-man Chris Tanev. Toronto will have to finish the game with 11 forwards.
McMann Will Not Return
The Maple Leafs cannot catch a break when it comes to the health and fitness of their forwards. McMann becomes the eighth forward to become unavailable for Toronto. This has forced the Leafs to make several call-ups from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. That includes Alex Steeves, Fraser Minten, Nikita Grebenkin and Alexander Nylander. The Maple Leafs have three forwards placed on the long-term injury reserve list. Max Pacioretty and David Kampf have both picked up injuries during the season, forcing them out of the lineup for the long term. Calle Jarnkrok suffered a blow in the preseason, keeping him out month-to-month Also, Ryan Reaves is serving a suspension for a high hit on Darnell Nurse on Nov. 16. After their game against the Panthers, Reaves will still have to sit out another two games before he can return to action.
Luckily for the Leafs, Auston Matthews, Max Domi, and Matthew Knies, all on IR, could return to action for their next game on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Toronto may not have to look for more help from their affiliates and these returning forwards could fill the gaps.
As for McMann, there will be more details over the coming days. The left winger has seven points in 20 games this season, including six goals. Going into this tilt against Florida, McMann had three goals in four games.
Main Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
