Toronto Maple Leafs Forward "To Miss Time" After Suffering Injury

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves is expected to miss some time following a significant lower-body injury he sustained during Thursday night's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The incident occurred in the first period when Reaves seemed to catch an edge in a rut and skated awkwardly into the boards without any contact from other players.

Ryan Reaves had to be helped off the ice. Watch at the end they just let him go, and he falls to the ground 🤦 Why did they let him go. pic.twitter.com/SyR40vlJRC

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) December 15, 2023

This resulted in a scary collision that necessitated assistance for Reaves to reach the locker room, as he was unable to continue in the game​​.

Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe provided an update on Reaves' condition, indicating that the veteran forward will be out of the team's lineup "for awhile".

The nature of the injury, specifically described as a lower-body issue, forced Reaves to leave the game prematurely and he did not return to play after the incident​​.

Ryan Reaves left the ice after colliding with the boards pic.twitter.com/zA4PZQ3laF

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) December 15, 2023

The team, already dealing with other injuries, will now have to adjust their lineup and strategies in the absence of Reaves.

So far this season, the 37-year-old has been averaging just 7:20 ice time per game, his lowest since the 2011-12 season. Photo Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports