Maple Leafs’ Jake McCabe, Calle Jarnkrok day-to-day to close out preseason

The Toronto Maple Leafs added a couple of players to their injured list on Friday in advance of Saturday’s final preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings.

Jake McCabe (upper body) and Calle Jarnkrok (lower body) are both listed as day-to-day per the Maple Leafs. There hasn’t been a further update, but it is assumed that McCabe and Jarnkrok will not play Saturday.

McCabe has been playing with Oliver Ekman-Larsson throughout the preseason. McCabe’s absence might open the door for someone like Timothy Liljegren to get a look higher up in the lineup or possibly create an opportunity for the team to get final looks at Marshall Rifai and Conor Timmins before deciding who will possibly land the 7th defenceman roster spot to start the season.

Jarnkrok has already missed some time in training camp and is coming off a season that was riddled with injuries. While Jarnkrok has been a valuable part of the Leafs, he hasn’t established a spot on Craig Berube’s lineup card. Jarnkrok’s value has always been his “Swiss Army Knife” ability to fit in, but with cheaper and younger options pushing for playing time, it may open the door for younger players are on the door step.

Steven Lorentz and Easton Cowan are among those who are pushing for the opportunity to stay with the Maple Leafs this season. Cowan, Toronto’s 2023 first-round pick, would potentially be returned to junior and Lorentz is on a professional tryout.

Both McCabe and Jarnkrok have played in two preseason games already. McCabe has played almost exclusively with Ekman-Larsson, while Jarnkrok played one game with Max Domi and William Nylander, and another game with Cedric Pare and Nikita Grebenkin as his primary linemates. Both McCabe and Jarnkrok have been held pointless in their appearances.

The Maple Leafs will have to finalize their roster before the opening of the NHL season on October 8th.