Maple Leafs’ Marshall Rifai out due to wrist surgery

According to Berube, Rifai suffered the injury during the Leafs’ preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night. Rifai played less than five minutes across nine shifts in Toronto’s 7-2 victory over its Original Six rival. Rifai was credited with one shot on goal, as well as a hit.

It was Rifai’s second appearance this preseason. He certainly made an impression in the Leafs’ first meeting with the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. After delivering a hard hit to Senators forward Ridly Greig, the Beaconsfield, Que. native had to answer the bell, dropping the gloves with Ottawa forward Drake Batherson. Rifai later had to engage in fisticuffs with Senators tough guy Zack McEwen.

It’s a tough blow for a player like Rifai, who received a handful of call-ups last season with the big club, despite not playing in any games. The 27-year-old has played just two games in his NHL career so far, both coming in February of the 2023-24 campaign.

He has spent most of his pro career with the Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. After posting a career-high 19 points two years ago, Rifai posted three goals and 10 assists for 13 points during the 2024-25 season, registering a plus/minus of +9 in 63 games. In 189 career AHL regular-season games, he has potted nine goals and 39 assists for 48 points, with another five points coming in 10 Calder Cup Playoff affairs.

Rifai is heading into the first year of a two-year contract extension that he signed with the Leafs in September 2024. The deal carries an NHL cap hit of $775,000 through the 2026-27 campaign.