The Toronto Maple Leafs’ centre depth will face another test this season as John Tavares was placed on injured reserve on Thursday. The Leafs are calling his injury “lower body.”
Rookie centre Fraser Minten was recalled from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies in a corresponding move.
The Leafs announced the moves before the team’s optional morning skate. They will face the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, with former head coach Sheldon Keefe returning to Toronto for the first time as Devils coach.
Maple Leafs F John Tavares has been placed on IR (lower body).
F Fraser Minten has been recalled from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) January 16, 2025
During Wednesday’s practice, Tavares got awkwardly tied up with Chris Tanev. His left leg appeared to be accidentally pulled onto the ice by Tanev while the Leafs were in the middle of a power-play drill. Tavares fell and kept his face down on the ice for a few seconds. He struggled to get up before shaking his right leg and then immediately leaving the ice without any assistance.
The Leafs centre is now ineligible to play for seven days. He will miss at least four games. The earliest he could return is Jan. 25 against the Ottawa Senators.
Tavares’ health has become a reliable element of his tenure in Toronto. He missed only seven games over the previous four seasons, and his only absence this season was due to illness.
The 34-year-old is in the middle of his best season in recent memory. His 1.49 goals per 60 minutes is second on the Leafs only to William Nylander. He appeared set to flirt with scoring 40 goals for the first time since 2018-19.
Minten kept his head above water during his 11-game stint with the Leafs earlier this season. The defensively minded forward had two goals and four points while adhering to Craig Berube’s structure rather well. In the AHL, the 20-year-old has been one of the Marlies’ best players. He’s regularly handled strong matchups in a top-six role while working in time on both special teams. Minten has five points and 10 games in 16 games.
But Minten will likely feature in a bottom-six role in the NHL. There will be other dominos to fall down the middle of the ice in Tavares’ absence.
Max Domi is in the middle of a production drought, with one assist in his last six games largely as the Leafs’ third-line centre. Berube has publicly called for Domi to shoot the puck more and become more physically involved. Could Tavares’ absence and possibly more ice time provide Domi the spark he needs to start producing more?
Pontus Holmberg has been in and out of the lineup. Best suited to a fourth-line role, the 25-year-old centre has failed to put his stamp on games. Tavares’ absence could see Holmberg get his most meaningful opportunity of the season.
David Kampf has found his game lately on an effective fourth line alongside Connor Dewar and Steven Lorentz. Yet it’s possible either Kampf or Dewar, who can play centre, is moved higher up the lineup in Tavares’ absence.
Finally, what if Tavares’ time off the ice turns into a lengthy spell? Could outside help become an option? Brad Treliving won’t want to deal from a place of weakness. But could an extended absence for Tavares cause the Leafs general manager to further explore the trade market for a centre well before the March 7 trade deadline?
Required reading
(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
