Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Toronto Maple Leafs' Calle Jarnkrok Suffers Significant Injury Setback, Awaits Expert Evaluation
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The injury bug keeps biting the Maple Leafs as now Calle Jarnkrok has suffered a severe setback with his hernia injury and needs to see a specialist for evaluation.

Calle Jarnkrok hasn't skated for the Maple Leafs since the preseason, suffering a sports hernia injury and recovering ever since. There were rumblings about his potential return down the road but there was no definitive timeline for the veteran to be back on the ice.

Toronto's been doing fine without him, but as the team starts to drop like flies, it's not a good sign that he wasn't looking close to a return.

Well, this entire season could now be in jeopardy, as The Hockey News' David Alter reported on Twitter that Jarnkrok has suffered a major setback in his recovery and needs to head to the Big Apple to get a specialist consultation:

It's terrible news, especially with Toronto's recent injury woes. Max Pacioretty just landed on the IR and is week-to-week, Auston Matthews has been out for the last three games and is doubtful for Tuesday's game against Ottawa, and Joseph Woll was on the shelf for the first little bit as well.

Jarnkrok is a player who Craig Berube would love to have on the ice, as he is a tough-as-nails two-way forward, who kills penalties, wins faceoffs, plays smart hockey, and doesn't give up on the play. Berube could use him over Nick Robertson; who's shown a bit of fire recently but offers much less versatility than Jarnkrok.

One game shy of 700 for his career, Jarnkrok is an 11-year veteran who made a name for himself as a long-time member of the Nashville Predators as a two-way player with the potential to score 15-20 goals while also doing all the little things right.

He has 301 points in 699 career games and had a stretch of 7 straight seasons with double-digit goals. He even hit the 20-goal benchmark with the Maple Leafs in his first season in Toronto. Jarnkrok would help Toronto's lack of discipline too, as he's not known for taking meaningless penalties; something the team needs help with.

While we can only hope that by some miracle Jarnkrok can return to the ice this season and contribute, perhaps in time for the playoffs. But as of now, it looks like a career-threatening injury that may affect not only his ability to play but his day-to-day well-being.

This article first appeared on Hockey Patrol and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Two Teams Linked to a Trade with Bruins for Pavel Zacha
NHL

Two Teams Linked to a Trade with Bruins for Pavel Zacha

The Boston Bruins are gauging trade interest in forward Pavel Zacha, according to The Fourth Period. Following a down season and a trade deadline where Zacha’s name was thrown around but was ultimately not moved, Bruins GM Don Sweeney is trying to move the 27-year-old Czech center. Zacha is playing in the final season of a contract that has a $4.75 million cap hit. Zacha, acquired from the New Jersey Devils in 2022 for Erik Haula, has been a solid pickup for Boston. He posted 21 goals and 57 points in 78 games in 2023-24, though his production dipped slightly to 47 points over a full 82-game slate last season. He can play up and down the lineup and has a strong two-way game. Who Has Shown Interest in a Zacha Trade? Two teams reportedly monitoring Zacha are the Vancouver Canucks and the Utah Hockey Club. Both teams are seeking top-six forward depth and would value Zacha’s steady offensive contributions. The Canucks have been busy all summer, signing and trading players. They have also been linked to Jack Roslovic talks in free agency, meaning they wouldn’t be adding both. Utah has been looking to make a splash this season and work their way up the standings in an attempt to compete for the playoffs. The Bruins would likely demand a notable return, but neither team is looking to send players back. The trade would likely involve a high pick or a mid-tier prospect. Zacha controls part of the process with an eight-team no-trade list. He’s owed just $3.75 million in actual salary each of the next two seasons, further boosting his trade appeal.

WNBA legend Lisa Leslie had three words for Angel Reese
WNBA

WNBA legend Lisa Leslie had three words for Angel Reese

Now in her second WNBA season, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is averaging a league‑leading 12.5 rebounds along with 13.8 points, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. She recently returned from injury and immediately picked up where she left off, posting her 16th double‑double of the season (11 points, 11 rebounds) on Tuesday night even as her Chicago Sky fell, 91-68, to the Minnesota Lynx. Then, on Wednesday, Reese showcased her brand power on Instagram, posting a pregame photo dressed head‑to‑toe in Gucci with the caption, "Don’t worry about me… life is GUCCI @gucci #guccipartner." The image quickly lit up her feed and drew an immediate response from one of the game’s all‑time greats, WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, who commented, “Yessss it is❤️." Despite flashes of elite play, the Sky have struggled mightily, standing at just 7-17 and sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference. Their 76.7 points per game rank 12th in the WNBA, and opponents are torching them for 86.8 a night (12th in the league). With head coach Tyler Marsh searching for consistency, every bright spot has been a welcome reprieve for a franchise that won the title as recently as 2021. Front and center among Chicago’s bright spots is Reese. Off the court, Reese has quickly built a burgeoning portfolio of endorsement deals, including Reebok, Calvin Klein, Beats by Dre, Amazon and now Gucci, underscoring her status as one of the WNBA’s brightest personalities. On the other side, you have Leslie, whose voice carries more weight than arguably anybody in women’s basketball. A three‑time league MVP, two‑time WNBA champion and Finals MVP and eight‑time All‑Star, Leslie helped define the league’s early years with the Los Angeles Sparks, including driving home the first dunk in WNBA history in 2002. A Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer (class of 2015), she remains a global ambassador for the sport.

Warriors still positioning themselves for Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster
NBA

Warriors still positioning themselves for Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster

Things have largely gone cold on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade front, but that does not mean teams are not thinking of the possibility of that changing. Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard noted that the Warriors are being cautious in negotiations with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, as he could be possible trade bait if Antetokounmpo is traded by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Warriors are adamant about not giving away Kuminga for less than his full trade value, which is why his situation remains unresolved with August looming. Kuminga and the Warriors have yet to agree on a contract, and it remains unclear when the situation will be resolved. He has a $7.9 million qualifying offer on the table, and signing it would allow him to approve any trade he is involved in. If he signs a multiyear extension, he would not be eligible to be traded until January, which could complicate things if Antetokounmpo decides late in the offseason that he wants a move. Presumably, Kuminga would be a key part of any trade the Warriors make involving Antetokounmpo. However, with no market materializing, there seems to be a growing chance he could remain with the team next season. The former No. 7 overall pick averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.8 steals per game last season. He appeared in 47 games, making 10 starts and averaging 24.3 minutes per game. However, he has been unable to consistently lock down a major spot in coach Steve Kerr’s rotation, which reportedly led to some tension between the two last season. Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, still seems unlikely to be traded, but teams are still going to prepare for the possibility.

Astros Star Pitching Prospect Named Top Trade Chip Ahead of Deadline
MLB

Astros Star Pitching Prospect Named Top Trade Chip Ahead of Deadline

After coming off a brutal loss to the Athletics, the Houston Astros have seen their edge in the American League West start to shrink. It has been a fantastic season so far for the Astros, but with the competition in the AL West getting tougher, Houston must think about making some upgrades before the trade deadline. The recent deal that sent Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners was a clear signal they are looking to improve and make a run at the Astros in the division. The Mariners are a very good team that needed offensive help, and that is starting to come. More News: Astros Place Another Starting Pitcher on IL With Concerning Injury Houston likely will try to be aggressive to make some improvements as well. When looking at the roster, they could use a left-handed bat to help the offense, along with a middle-of-the-rotation pitcher. Depending on how aggressive the team will try to get, it could cost them some of their best prospects. Fortunately, their farm system has coveted pieces, with one prospect standing out as a potential trade option. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com recently wrote about the best trade chip for the Astros being right-handed pitching prospect Miguel Ullola. “The 23-year-old possesses a strong fastball and a solid slider, projecting as a mid-rotation starter. Houston is looking for a left-handed bat and suddenly has an opening at third base following Isaac Paredes’ recent injury.” More News: Astros Should Target Ryan O'Hearn Ahead of MLB Trade Deadline Even though Houston knows there is no such thing as too much starting pitching, Ullola is a great trade chip after the 23-year-old has posted a 3.50 ERA across 69.1 innings pitched in Triple-A. With an elite strikeout per nine rate of 11.6, there is a lot to like about the potential of Ullola going forward. As arguably the best trade chip the Astros have, they wouldn’t move him, more than likely, for just a rental player. The right-hander would be far too valuable to give up for a player for just a couple of months. More News: Astros Must Improve Offense Following Mariners Acquisition of Josh Naylor Due to the injuries to Isaac Paredes and Yordan Alvarez, help in the lineup seems like it would be the most pressing area for them to try to upgrade. This is a unit that hasn’t been great for most of the year, but a lot of that is because of the injury to their star slugger. If it is Ullola who is dealt at the trade deadline, that would mean more than likely an impact player is coming back in return. For more Astros news, head over to Astros On SI.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!