The Toronto Maple Leafs are getting set to open training camp on Wednesday.
Off-ice fitness testing and medical checkups will dominate the first day of Toronto Maple Leafs Training camp.
Two players expected to miss the start of training camp are Timothy Liljegren and Pierre Engvall.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are not commenting on the extent of the injuries. Depending on how severe the injuries are, Toronto could place one or both players on LTIR to free up some cap space.
Replacing Injured Toronto Maple Leafs
According to Frank Seravalli, Engvall has been dealing with a nagging injury throughout the summer. Toronto’s medical staff are waiting to reevaluate him before announcing how much time he might miss.
The forward recently signed a one-year deal for $2.25 million. Engvall registered 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points in 78 games last season. During the 2022 NHL playoffs, Engvall recorded three assists in seven games. He was looking to build off that this season ahead of becoming an unrestricted free agent. Hopefully, he won’t miss too much time.
Timothy Liljegren’s injury got reported by Chris Johnston on Tuesday. Johnston says the team address Liljegren’s injury on Wednesday when training camp opens. Liljegren signed a two-year deal this off-season worth $1.4 million a season.
The 2021-22 season was Liljegren’s first lengthy season in the NHL. He registered five goals and 18 assists for 23 points in 61 games. Like Engvall, Liljegren was looking to parlay last season’s success into a bigger role.
A young player such as Alex Steeves or Nick Robertson could win a roster spot during training camp. One of them could take Engvall’s place while he is recovering. Both players had a decent showing at the Traverse City Prospects Tournament. Engvall’s injury could be just what one of these players needs to prove they are NHL-ready.
As for Liljegren’s replacement, that’s a little more tricky. It could open the door for the Toronto Maple Leafs to get Rasmus Sandin signed. Veterans Jordie Benn and Victor Mete will be looking to earn Liljegren’s spot on the right side. Something to keep an eye on during training camp.
Both injuries add to the competition at training camp. Players on the bubble looking to earn a roster spot now have a better opportunity. We will soon find out which player(s) take advantage of that opportunity. On-ice practices and scrimmages will begin on Thursday. Toronto’s pre-season will begin on Saturday, September 24th, with a doubleheader against the Ottawa Senators.