Leafs Face Another Major Blow After Ekman-Larsson’s Painful Exit
So, here’s what’s been unfolding around the Toronto Maple Leafs, and it’s the kind of news that makes fans collectively hold their breath. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who has been one of the quiet but steady forces on the blue line this season, left the game with what really appeared to be a significant injury. And honestly, the timing could not be worse for Toronto.
The Leafs were already stretched thin on defense. Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo are out, Dakota Mermis was just injured earlier in the week against Tampa Bay, and because of that, Henry Thrun had been recalled to fill the gap. The original plan for Thrun was to give him sheltered minutes on the third pair with Simon Benoit—just a manageable, low-pressure introduction back into NHL action. But those plans unraveled quickly.
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Early in the third period, a collision behind the Leafs’ net changed everything. Ekman-Larsson was caught up in a play with former Leaf Adam Gaudette. Gaudette lost his balance while circling around the net, went hard into the boards, and unfortunately, landed right on Ekman-Larsson’s foot on the way down. The awkward bend of OEL’s foot told you immediately that something wasn’t right. He stayed down, clearly in pain, signaling to the officials for a whistle.
When he finally got back up, it became obvious he couldn’t put any weight on the injured foot. He had to be helped off the ice and escorted straight to the dressing room. It was a tough sight—not just because of the injury itself, but because Ekman-Larsson had been playing some of his best hockey in years. His resurgence has been one of the bright spots of the Leafs’ season, especially with so many defensemen already out.
If this injury ends up sidelining him long-term, Toronto could be facing a serious depth crisis on the blue line. Losing someone who has been contributing this consistently would be a huge blow, especially at a time when stability is already in short supply.
Fans are understandably anxious, wondering just how much more the defense can absorb. With each injury, the load shifts onto newer faces, more untested pairings, and a whole lot of hope that things settle before the damage becomes too difficult to manage.
Right now, the Leafs are waiting on further evaluation, but based on how it looked, expectations are cautious at best. And while the team has navigated setbacks before, this one feels like yet another hurdle in a season where the blueline has barely had a chance to breathe.
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