Injury bug bites Maple Leafs, Rielly placed on long-term injured reserve

By Lucas Casaletto

The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed star defenceman Morgan Rielly on long-term injured reserve with a knee injury, the team announced on Tuesday.

Rielly suffered the injury in Monday’s eventual 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Islanders. The 28-year-old will be out a minimum of 10 games and 24 days.

Sources indicate Rielly’s injury is MCL related, meaning he could miss anywhere from four to six weeks.

The absence stings the Maple Leafs at a time when they’re already dealing with multiple injuries on the back end, with T.J. Brodie (oblique) and Jake Muzzin (spine) both out.

Muzzin is not expected back this season and will be re-evaluated in February, while Brodie will miss the next few games, at least. Toronto is also without goalie Ilya Samsonov, who is recovering from a knee injury.

Rielly leads all Maple Leafs defencemen in points with 16 assists in 20 games. He’s yet to score this season. He’s also rarely missed time during his career, appearing in over 80 games across four different seasons.

The Maple Leafs recalled defencemen Victor Mete and Mac Hollowell from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

The extended loss of Rielly could force the Maple Leafs to make a trade, with Mark Giordano, Rasmus Sandin, Timothy Liljegren, Justin Holl, and Jordie Benn left as regulars on defence.

Toronto (10-5-5) begins a four-game road trip on Wednesday in New Jersey in a showdown with the Devils, who have won 13 straight games.

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