Leafs place Nick Blankenburg on injured reserve

Toronto has also placed defenseman Marshall Rifai on injured reserve. In corresponding moves, the Leafs have called up defensemen Dakota Mermis and Cole McWard from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Toronto Marlies.

Blankenburg, 28, suffered an upper-body injury during Thursday’s 5-4 win over the New York Rangers. The injury occured when he was checked hard into the boards by Rangers forward Will Cuylle in the third period, forcing him to miss the remainder of the game.

The Washington, Michigan native has a goal and an assist for two points in six games this season, averaging just over 13 minutes of ice time. He attended Toronto’s training camp this year on a professional tryout agreement and ultimately secured a one-year, $1.4 million contract.

Blankenburg split last season between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche, notching eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points over a total of 61 games. He is now in his sixth NHL season after signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

Rifai, 28, will be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. He has a goal and no assists in two games played for the Leafs this season, while averaging just over 14 minutes of ice time.

Mermis, 32, has no goals and one assist in seven games for the Marlies this season. He had one goal and no assists in 11 games for the Leafs last season.

McWard, 25, has no goals and three assists in five games for the Marlies this season. He went pointless in three games for the New York Islanders last season.

In other Leafs injury news, forward John Tavares and defenseman Chris Tavev are each considered week-to-week with their respective injuries.