The Toronto Maple Leafs' injury woes continue to deepen as forward Matthew Knies has been sidelined with a lower-body injury. The announcement came unexpectedly on Tuesday, just before the team's game against the St. Louis Blues. Knies had been a regular participant in practices and played in the entirety of the Leafs' previous game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The team has not disclosed the specific cause or severity of the injury, only stating that Knies is considered day-to-day. This latest setback adds to an already lengthy list of injured Maple Leafs players, including Auston Matthews, Nicolas Roy, Chris Tanev and Scott Laughton.
Knies has been a key contributor to the Maple Leafs this season, with 5 goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 19 games. His absence will be a significant blow to the team's offensive capabilities, as he was projected to play on the second line and contribute to both the power play and penalty kill units. Mattias Maccelli is expected to step up in the lineup.
With several key players out, the Maple Leafs have had to rely on less experienced players such as Sammy Blais, Easton Cowan, Jacob Quillan, Phillipe Myers, and Dakota Mermis. The team also recently claimed Troy Stecher off waivers to bolster their roster. Jacob Quillan was recalled from the AHL's Toronto Marlies and will skate on the third line.
The Maple Leafs have placed defenseman Chris Tanev on long-term injured reserve. Tanev was injured on November 1st during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers after a collision. This was his first game back since recovering from an upper-body injury sustained in October.
The Maple Leafs currently sit seventh in the Atlantic Division with a record of 8-9-2. The team is struggling to find consistency amidst the injuries to key players. William Nylander leads the team in scoring with 26 points, while John Tavares has 24 points and Morgan Rielly leads the defense with 15 points.
The Maple Leafs will need to find a way to overcome these challenges as they face the St. Louis Blues. The team will rely on depth players to step up and contribute in the absence of their injured stars.
