Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan O’Reilly took part in his first full practice since injuring his finger against the Vancouver Canucks on Mar. 3, but there is no rush for him to get back before he’s ready.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan O’Reilly took part in his first full practice since injuring his finger against the Vancouver Canucks on Mar. 3, but there is no rush for him to get back before he’s ready.
Ryan O’Reilly is feeling good after taking part in his first full practice with the Toronto Maple Leafs since suffering from a broken finger earlier this month.
Now it’s just about being “smart” before figuring out an action plan for his return to the lineup.
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O'Reilly didn't know how serious his injury was until he came off the ice and head trainer Paul Ayotte asked to look at it.
"That's when I saw it was crooked," O'Reilly recalled. "They said I'd need surgery and that was disappointing. But the good news was I wouldn't be out too long and that it happened early and better that it wasn't later in the season."
The Leafs put a timeline of four weeks from the time he was injured. The 32-year-old veteran could come back next week if they feel there is any added risk.
O'Reilly added that if the playoffs had started today, he could possibly play. But given the Leafs' top trade acquisition was acquired for that purpose, Toronto is expected to be very patient.
The Maple Leafs acquired O'Reilly along with forward Noel Acciari from the St. Louis Blues as part of a three-team trade with the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 18.
O'Reilly has had three goals and two assists since joining the Maple Leafs.
Ideal lineup with O'Reilly in the playoffs
If the playoffs were to start tomorrow, Sheldon Keefe said he has an ideal lineup in his mind with O'Reilly in mind. But the Toronto Maple Leafs coach cautioned everything is subject to change.
A lot can happen over the course of eight games, including injury and performance.
"We have a sense of what we'd do but until we have all the information, there's no need to solidify anything, especially in this case."
Maple Leafs forwards Noel Acciari and Wayne Simmonds were not present. Acciari missed the last game with a neck injury and will not play against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, Wayne Simmonds, who had slotted in for the last couple of games, was not at practice due to illness and a decision later Friday or Saturday will be made if Simmonds can join the trip. If Simmonds is unable to play, Radim Zohorna would make his Maple Leafs debut.
The Maple Leafs acquired Zohorna from the Calgary Flames on March 3 in exchange for forward Dryden Hunt.
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