Tough Injury News For the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs will have some line juggling to do after their prized free-agent Joe Thornton went down with a wrist injury on Wednesday night against the Edmonton Oilers.

The play didn't look out of the ordinary, however, Thornton came up lame and then Leafs Nation started to panic. After a slow start, the line of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Thornton were getting hot as they've combined for 13 points in their first five games.

The team has now announced that Thornton is expected to be out a minimum of four weeks with a fracture in his rib section. Look for Zach Hyman to move up onto the first-line, in a spot he's rather familiar with before Thornton arrived.

Hyman is a great compliment workhorse to Matthews and Marner and does all the dirty work and is happy to do so. His fantasy value just went through the roof.

Photo credit:  Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire

Sheldon Keefe confirms Auston Matthews it OUT tonight for #Leafs vs. Oilers. Upper body soreness. Day-to-day.

Joe Thornton has a rib fracture, will miss at least a month.

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) January 22, 2021