The Toronto Maple Leafs received a major scare on Saturday night when veteran forward Max Pacioretty took a slap shot directly to the side of his head from star teammate Auston Matthews. While Pacioretty was somehow able to finish the game, logging over 10 additional minutes of ice time after the incident, the Leafs announced on Monday that the 36-year-old has been ruled out indefinitely with an upper-body injury.
Head coach Craig Berube confirmed after Monday’s practice that Pacioretty will not suit up against the Tampa Bay Lightning and is currently being evaluated on a day-to-day basis. The Leafs are expected to insert 20-year-old prospect Fraser Minten into Pacioretty’s spot on a line with Max Domi and Nicholas Robertson for the time being.
Leafs’ Depth To Be Tested With Pacioretty Out
Pacioretty’s absence, for however long it lasts, will test Toronto’s forward depth as they jockey for playoff positioning in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division. The six-time 30-goal scorer was one of the Leafs’ key offseason acquisitions, signing a one-year, $873,770 contract in October to provide cost-effective secondary scoring punch.
While he has not produced at his typical rate so far, notching 5 goals and 12 points through 32 games, Pacioretty brings valuable leadership and experience to a team with championship aspirations. Toronto currently sits fourth in the Atlantic, firmly in a playoff spot but looking up at the juggernaut Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Buffalo Sabres.
Matthews “Feeling Terrible” About Injuring Teammate
For Auston Matthews, seeing Pacioretty crumble to the ice after his shot made direct contact was a “terrible feeling.” The reigning Rocket Richard Trophy winner was clearly shaken up about the incident when addressing reporters after practice:
“I feel awful, just terrible about what happened. We’re teammates, we’re battling together every night, so to see Max go down like that off of my shot was one of the worst feelings in hockey. So I’m just hoping he’s all right and can get back out there with us as soon as possible.”
– Auston Matthews
Matthews and Pacioretty, both American-born players, have developed a strong friendship since the latter’s arrival in Toronto. The Leafs will now hope their leading goalscorer can remain locked in as the team awaits a prognosis on Pacioretty’s injury.
Leafs’ Injury Concerns Piling Up
Unfortunately for the Maple Leafs, the Pacioretty news is just the latest blow to a team that has been dealing with injuries to several key players. Captain John Tavares has missed the last four games with a lower-body injury, while top-six winger William Nylander sat out Saturday’s contest due to a new undisclosed ailment.
Losing Pacioretty for any significant stretch would be a bitter pill to swallow for a Leafs team that invested in the veteran specifically to withstand injuries to their elite forward group. How long he ultimately remains out will have major implications on Toronto’s trade deadline approach and ultimate ceiling for this season.
Latest Example of Dangers NHL Players Face
The scary Pacioretty incident is just the latest example of the inherent dangers hockey players face every time they step on the ice. Even in practice or a routine game situation, one bad bounce or slightly errant shot can have serious consequences.
- Blocked shots frequently leave players with broken bones or nasty bruises
- Deflected high sticks and pucks to the face cause gruesome lacerations and dental damage
- Collisions along the boards can result in concussions and other head/neck trauma
In Pacioretty’s case, he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when Matthews unleashed his patented blistering slap shot. A few inches in either direction could have made the difference between a bruising wake-up call and a potentially serious head injury for the Leafs’ high-profile summer signing.
Leafs Await Word On Severity Of Pacioretty Injury
The hockey world will now anxiously await further updates on Pacioretty’s status in the coming days. The Leafs have not provided any specifics on his injury beyond terming it “upper-body,” so it remains unclear if he is dealing with a concussion, a facial fracture, or some other form of trauma from the point-blank slap shot.
Much will depend on the results of further testing and evaluation by Toronto’s medical staff. Head injuries in particular are notoriously tricky and varying in recovery times, meaning Pacioretty could theoretically return within days or be facing a months-long absence. The Leafs will have to hope for the best but prepare for an extended period without their offseason X-factor.
As they turn the page to Monday’s matchup with the imposing Lightning, the fragile Maple Leafs must find a way to restore their health, maintain their standings positioning, and keep pace in the race for Atlantic Division supremacy. With Pacioretty now joining the growing ranks of sidelined impact players, that task just became exponentially more difficult.
