November News and Notes

 

Photo From Sportsnet

In November, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a 5-2-1 record, with four games remaining.  

After a frustrating 3-0 loss to Ottawa, the Leafs responded with back-to-back overtime wins against Washington and the Edmonton Oilers. It hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Toronto, as their power play has struggled at times, though it appears to be improving.

 **Reaves Suspended**
  

The other night against the Oilers, Ryan Reaves was on the ice against Darnell Nurse. As Nurse came around the net, Reaves caught him with a shoulder to the head. Reaves was given a five-minute match penalty, and after reviewing the play, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety determined that a five-game suspension was warranted.  

Honestly, I’m okay with the suspension, but I feel five games is a bit excessive. Yes, Reaves did make contact with the head, but Nurse is known for skating with his head down—a habit players are told to avoid. If you watch the play closely, Reaves wasn’t expecting Nurse to cut in front of his team’s net to head up the ice.  

In the Department of Player Safety’s video explaining the suspension, they highlighted that Nurse was injured and bleeding on the play. However, part of the issue stems from Nurse not wearing his helmet properly, which caused it to come off, leading to a visor-related cut on his face.  

Reaves deserved a penalty for the hit, but Nurse also bears some responsibility for his vulnerability. Consistently skating with his head down and failing to secure his helmet properly puts him at greater risk of injury. It’s comparable to driving without a seatbelt—if you don’t take basic precautions, the risk of injury increases in an accident.  

 **Järnkrok Out Long-Term**
  

At the end of October, it was believed that Calle Järnkrok would soon be activated from long-term injured reserve. However, the team announced yesterday that he underwent successful surgery on his groin to repair a sports hernia. What was initially thought to be a few weeks of recovery is now expected to take several months.  

Thankfully, Toronto has the roster depth to navigate these injury-filled times, ensuring they remain competitive.

**Kämpf Injured - Minten Recalled**
  

In more injury news, the Maple Leafs announced this morning that David Kämpf will miss some time due to an undisclosed injury. In response, the team has called up Fraser Minten from the Toronto Marlies.  

Minten has recorded four points in five games this season with the Marlies. His NHL season debut will come tomorrow against Vegas. This is a golden opportunity for Minten to show Leafs management and coaches that he’s ready to take the next step.

While the team still awaits the return of Auston Matthews and Max Pacioretty, the Leafs have shown they possess enough character and skill to weather these challenges. However, closing out November with games against Vegas, Utah, Florida, and Tampa won’t be easy. If the Leafs can collect points along the way, they’ll demonstrate they’re ready to take the next step when playoff time arrives.