Maple Leafs Forward Injured During Practice

The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't even figured out who is going to play on their power-play yet, and the team is already dealing with injuries. During their second full practice on Tuesday, Alexander Kerfoot got 'banged up' according to his head coach and now there's no timetable for his return.

Alexander Kerfoot is day-to-day, banged up in Leafs practice, per Keefe.

— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) January 5, 2021

The 26-year-old Kerfoot is in his second season in blue and white and is slated for the #3 center position, on a line with Zach Hyman and Ilya Mikheyev. Both the Russian winger and Kerfoot's college teammate Jimmy Vesey were interchanging and you can expect to see Vesey with Kerfoot a lot this year.  The trio forms a line that gives the Leafs a combination of blazing speed, toughness, and underrated offensive play. 

Last season in 65 games Kerfoot produced 28 points and chipped in with three assists in five playoff games. It was his career low for points, but his first season in more of a defensive role as he's stuck down the depth chart behind Auston Matthews and John Tavares. 

If Kerfoot is unable to play next week, at this point that's too early to tell, but if so, expect to see Jason Spezza moved up into the third-line center role and Pierre Engvall fill in on the fourth line. 

Photo credit:  Devin Manky/Icon Sportswire

Per #Leafs, these are the lines and defensive combos from practice today:

Thornton−Matthews−Marner
Vesey−Tavares−Nylander
Mikheyev−Kerfoot−Hyman
Barabanov−Spezza−Simmonds

Rielly−Brodie
Muzzin−Holl
Lehtonen−Bogosian
Sandin−Dermott

Andersen
Campbell

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) January 4, 2021