Concern over Maple Leafs defensive injuries will linger into playoffs

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Toronto Maple Leafs may be the last team that needs a reminder of how injuries can impact a playoff series.

Would the story of 2020 be written differently had Jake Muzzin not been stretchered off in the sickening silence of that bubble series against Columbus?

Would 2021’s epic Round 1 comeback from the Montreal Canadiens have been possible had John Tavares and Muzzin (again) been available the whole way?

Even the lone victorious series this era of Maple Leafs enjoyed — 2023 over Tampa Bay — could, partly, be attributed to the Lightning’s early loss of rugged defenceman Erik Cernak.

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And 2024’s overtime disappointment in Boston — a Game 7 of inches — might have never occurred had Auston Matthews or William Nylander or Bobby McMann or Joseph Woll been healthy for the entire series.

The ol’ “war of attrition” cliché keeps getting dusted off this time of year because it holds true.

It is with a nod to recent history, then, that there should be at least some measure of concern regarding the health of the 2025 Maple Leafs’ blueline.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe, and David Kämpf are all out indefinitely with upper-body injuries and unspecific recovery timelines. All three remained back in Toronto during the Leafs’ potential division-clinching road trip to Carolina and Buffalo this week. All three are doubtful to dress in Thursday’s regular-season finale against the Red Wings.

Which begs the question: Will Ekman-Larsson be ready for Game 1 on Easter Weekend?

“That’s a good question. Right now, I expect him to play, but you never know,” coach Craig Berube said Tuesday morning.

“He’s tough, so he’ll play through things. If he’s not in the lineup, somebody else has to step up. That’s the bottom line. That’s part of playoffs.”

And how serious is the concern over the playoff availability of McCabe, who has endured two head injuries this season and suffered an apparent shoulder-area injury two weeks ago in a win over Florida?

“Well, there’s always a concern, right? It’s a little ways away yet for me to make those kinds of decisions,” Berube said.

“I gotta see them up close a little bit more here and talk to these guys and see where they’re at.”

McCabe leads all Leafs in average ice time (21:31) and rates second, to shutdown partner Chris Tanev, on the team in plus/minus (plus-23). This is his third prolonged absence due to injury this season.

The positive news is that McCabe, too, is tough — and he has been skating for some time now.

Ekman-Larsson seems farther away.

Versatile enough to play either side and both special teams, the edgy Ekman-Larsson has instantly became an integral piece of the blue line. He logs the third-most minutes (21:04), holds the third-best plus/minus (plus-14), and has put up more even-strength points (25) than any Leafs defender.

For now, veteran journeyman Dakota Mermis is the next man up. He’ll play his second game as a Maple Leaf Tuesday against the Sabres.

Mermis told Sportsnet “it would mean everything” to suit up in a post-season game for the Leafs.

He has never participated in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“That’s one of the main reasons I wanted to sign in Toronto at this point in my career. Like, I haven’t won in pro. I want a chance to try to be a part of winning,” said the undrafted Mermis, who won a Memorial Cup with the Oshawa Generals in 2015.

“So, that was my goal (in 2024 free agency). Even if it meant being lower in a depth chart in an organization, my priority was going somewhere that has a chance to win. So, if I got an opportunity to contribute to that on the ice, that’d be amazing. I’d love to get in contribute off the ice as well — push culture and be ready waiting for the opportunity to play games.”

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