Add one more player to the growing number of Maple Leafs injuries and absentees.
Already without captain Auston Matthews with a mystery upper body injury that has sidelined him seven games, Max Pacioretty out weeks with a leg issue, Calle Jarnkrok just undergoing sports hernia surgery and Ryan Reaves about to start a five-game league suspension, David Kampf is the latest casualty.
The club announced Tuesday morning the big fourth-line centre has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Saturday with a lower-body issue.
The club has called up 2022 first-round pick Fraser Minten from the AHL Toronto Marlies, where he had four points in five games after getting hurt in September’s rookie camp, a high ankle sprain. The centre made the club out of main camp last season and played four games without a point.
The Leafs had already summoned winger Alex Steeves from the Marlies after Pacioretty’s injury.
Matthews has not skated for a few days as what was expected to be a short-term injury has lingered. Head coach Craig Berube now describes it as “a bit of a holding pattern,” but added Matthews is not getting any worse. The Leafs have a light schedule this month, which should help.
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The Leafs practice later Tuesday and play next on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights at home, their first game since Reaves was sentenced for an illegal check to the head Saturday on Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse.
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