The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that forward Andreas Johnsson has been placed on long-term injured reserve. The move comes after a recent loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The teams announced the move along with several promotions early Friday morning.
The @MapleLeafs have recalled forwards Nic Petan and Pontus Aberg and defenceman Martin Marincin from the @TorontoMarlies (AHL).
Forward Andreas Johnsson will be placed on long-term injury reserve.
Details: https://t.co/bK5GdHolkX pic.twitter.com/3uyMl9rmYp
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 6, 2019
Andreas Johnsson Moved to Injured Reserve
Johnsson’s injury comes at a time when Toronto is still trying to get its season back on track. The 25-year-old forward currently has six goals and 16 points in 30 games. Most of his ice time came on the top line next to top players Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Johnsson was the gritty member of that trio with 25 hits on top of his scoring numbers. He certainly wasn’t the star but still posted solid traditional and advanced numbers. Johnsson has 28 goals and 62 points in 112 games with the Leafs since his debut in 2017-18.
The injury is just another obstacle on what has been a challenging season for the Maple Leafs. They have dealt with multiple injuries and underperformance from some of their players. Johnsson’s absence only compounds the frustration that fans and the front office must be feeling. The coaching staff needs its highly-paid stars to step up and do even more than what they are currently doing.
What This Means for the Future
The team has recalled several players including offseason acquisition Pontus Aberg from the AHL affiliate. He played with the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild in 2018-19, scoring 12 goals and 25 points in 59 combined games. His role will be similar to Johnsson’s as he contributed 45 hits as well. The Leafs have also recalled Nic Petan and Martin Marincin for additional insurance. Aberg won’t be a major factor but he did have a solid 2018-19. The team needs much more from its players so there could be some major shuffling to account for Johnsson’s absence. We’ll keep you informed of anything new happening.
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