The Toronto Maple Leafs recalled Dakota Joshua from his conditioning loan this afternoon, and the timing tells you everything about this team's health.
He wasn't the only name on the update. John Tavares, Kirill Marchenko, Nick Blankenburg and Marshall Rifai are all week-to-week, while Chris Tanev is day-to-day with an upper body injury.
The list kept going like a grocery receipt that won't stop printing. And it landed hours before puck drop in Seattle tonight, for a club sitting fifth in its division at 7-5-2.
Marchenko's absence stings the most on paper. He's third on the team with 14 points, and his 4 power play goals lead the Leafs outright.
The lower body injury takes a hot forward out mid-stride, too. He had 5 points over his last 5 games.
Tavares is the longer problem. The 36-year-old is expected to be out until at least Nov. 27, wiping out most of November for a veteran who had 7 points in 7 games.
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Toronto's blue line is suddenly running on fumes
Three defensemen sit on the same injury report. Tanev, Rifai and Blankenburg went down together, thinning a group that's already giving up 3.3 goals per game.
Blankenburg had played just 6 games in a Leafs sweater, with 1 goal and a -3 rating. Rifai's lone goal came in only 2 appearances.
So who soaks up those minutes? Dakota Mermis has dressed just twice this season, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson is already carrying a -4 rating.
The crease isn't bailing anybody out either. Sergei Bobrovsky owns a .897 save percentage across 9 appearances.
Which brings it back to Joshua. The big center played 55 games for Toronto last season and scored 10 goals.
His tune-up with the Marlies didn't exactly scream ready. Four games. No points.
Here's the uncomfortable part. Joshua carries a $3,250,000 cap hit through 2027-28.
That's a lot of money for a forward coming off a scoreless AHL stint, and right now the Leafs can't afford passengers. This recall looks like necessity, plain and simple.
Jim Hiller has to rebuild the middle of his lineup on the road. Tonight in Seattle opens a swing that heads to Vancouver on Saturday.
The Kraken aren't exactly rolling after a 1-5 home loss to Minnesota. They'll still get a Leafs group fresh off Monday's 5-2 flop in Calgary.
Tanev is the only name on that list with a short timeline. If day-to-day turns into something longer, does John Chayka really sit on his hands until Tavares comes back?
Should John Chayka trade for a defenseman before John Tavares returns?
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