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Toronto Maple Leafs: Injured Players Close to Returning

By Jeremy Ridgewell

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 10: Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at the Bell Centre on February 10, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 10: Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at the Bell Centre on February 10, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have a couple of injured players close to returning.

Both Ilya Mikheyev and Petr Mrazek are progressing well and could return to the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup soon.

Mikheyev took part in the team’s morning skate on Wednesday. The Leafs then had a rare day off on Thursday before returning to practice on Friday. Friday’s practice was Mikheyev’s first since he suffered the hand injury in a pre-season game against the Ottawa Senators.

Mrazek was at the Toronto Marlies practice on Friday. He will play for them on a conditioning stint. If all goes well for him, he will be activated off long-term injured reserve and rejoin the Maple Leafs.

Another player who has been absent from Toronto’s lineup for the last few days also returned to Maple Leafs practice on Friday, Ondrej Kase. He has been Day-to-Day with an upper-body injury. He returned to practice in a regular practice jersey, meaning he will likely be in the lineup on Saturday night.

Toronto Maple Leafs Salary Cap Implications

Although these players returning is good news for Toronto, other moves will now need to happen. Mrazek’s $3.8 million cap hit and Mikheyev’s $1.645 million cap hit will need to fit under the $81.5 million salary cap limit.

That is $5.445 million in cap space needed on the main roster in order for these two players to return. According to capfriendly.com, the Maple Leafs currently have $1.396 million in cap space. This means that Toronto still has to clear $4.049 million from their current roster.

If Joey Anderson, Joseph Woll, and Michael Hutchinson are all sent back to the Toronto Marlies, that clears another $2.225 million. That leaves just $1.824 million needs to come off the books.

Even with sending a few players down to the Toronto Marlies in the AHL, the team will still have more salary to move. It would not be surprising to see Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas make a trade before the Christmas trade freeze period. The question is, who is the most likely to be traded?

Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Incoming

One player whose name seems to get mentioned the most regarding Maple Leafs trade rumors is defenseman Justin Holl. Holl is not having a good start to his season. His salary-cap hit is $2 million, which would solve the cap problem instantly. With young defenseman Timothy Liljegren playing well, Holl might be the odd man out right now.

Another possible trade could see Mikheyev himself get traded to another team. It is no secret that Mikheyev has previously asked for a trade, and with another injury setting him back this season, Kyle Dubas might consider moving him.

Next. It's Trade Time. dark

We should find out in the next week or so what the next move is for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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