Overview
- The team confirmed Friday that Marshall Rifai was placed on injured reserve and is listed week-to-week with a lower-body injury traced to the Oct. 20 game in Columbus after he left Thursday’s morning skate early.
- Nick Blankenburg was also put on injured reserve Friday after suffering an upper-body injury when he was checked into the boards by Will Cuylle during Thursday’s game against the New York Rangers.
- Chris Tanev remains on injured reserve and is already considered week-to-week, leaving the Leafs with multiple regular defensemen unavailable.
- The Leafs recalled AHL defensemen Dakota Mermis and Cole McWard from the Toronto Marlies on Friday to fill immediate gaps on the blue line.
- With depth thin the club may lean on veterans for heavier minutes or make further recalls during the Western Canada road trip, a development that could change pairings and ice time for players such as Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.