The Maple Leafs have placed defenceman Jake Muzzin on injured reserve amid a day of changes to their lineup.
Filip Kral was called up from the Toronto Marlies after Muzzin hurt his neck in the second period of Monday’s 4-2 loss to Arizona.
When practice commenced, a new second line was in place with Nick Robertson on second line left wing with John Tavares and William Nylander. Denis Malgin, who was in that spot the first four games, appears to be sitting out this Thursday’s home game versus the Dallas Stars as no other changes at forward were made.
While Kral is up, it seems Victor Mete is the defenceman the team will activate against the Stars. Yet to play and called up only when goalie Matt Murray’s groin injury freed up salary cap space, Mete partnered Mark Giordano on Wednesday with Muzzin’s usual mate, Justin Holl, alongside Rasmus Sandin.
Also practising are injured defencemen Jordie Benn (groin) and Timothy Liljegren (hernia surgery), though neither is able to come off the injured list.
That Muzzin was not placed on long-term IR is encouraging, though he’s already battled a back issue through camp.
It was expected that Robertson would play against his brother, Jason, of the Stars, but coach Sheldon Keefe had kept Malgin in the lineup versus Arizona hoping the arrival of Robertson would spark him. Instead, the top two lines both had execution problems against the lowly Coyotes. Wayne Simmonds is the other extra forward.
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