Sheldon Keefe Gives Disappointing Update on Mitch Marner Recovery
PUBLICATION
Tom Banks
March 18, 2024 (6:27 PM)
The Toronto Maple Leafs have big goals in 2023-24, but if they want to achieve any of them, they need to be healthy heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, especially in their forward group.
While the original diagnosis on Mitch Marner's injury revealed that the team hoped he would return this past weekend, things haven't gone the way that the team would have liked, as he remained out of practice on Monday morning.
According to Sheldon Keefe, the team are giving Marner more time to recover, as they want him to be 100% healthy for the playoffs, rather than rush back and risk another injury.
"It hasn't been responding the way that they had hoped," admitted Keefe on Monday.
"So we're just stepping back a bit with it," added Keefe.
Despite originally having their St. Patrick's Day clash with the Carolina Hurricanes as a return date, Marner may now miss the next two games on the road against Philadelphia and Washington.
Morning skate notes: 🗣️
Sheldon Keefe said Mitch Marner, dealing with a high ankle sprain, won't join the team for the next two games.
He also mentioned Ilya Lyubushkin is unwell and likely out for tomorrow's game against Philly. According to freelance health reporter Ali Rendely, the average recover time from Marner's injury in the NHL has been eight games, so with the playoffs less than eight weeks away, the team are right to be patient as they need him healthy if they are to make a Stanley Cup run.
Spoke to @kevin_mcgran about Marner's ankle injury
Return from high ankle sprains in the NHL is highly variable with a median of 8 games missed (range, 0-65 games)
As Read on Hockey Feed - Sheldon Keefe changes his tune on the Mitch Marner injury.
POLL |
Could the Maple Leafs win a playoff series without Mitch Marner? |
Yes | 78 | 29.7 % |
No | 185 | 70.3 % |
List of polls |
|
47 minutes ago | By Graham Montgomery Mitch Marner throws shade at Toronto Maple Leafs after winning Four Nations faceoff |
|
2 hours ago | By Graham Montgomery Mark Messier and PK Subban officially return to the ice for a wonderful cause |
|
3 hours ago | By Tom Banks Keith Tkachuk Hands Auston Matthews Praise After Being Boo'd At The Four Nations |
|
5 hours ago | By Tom Banks Connor McDavid's status for today's game versus the Flyers shared by head coach |
|
6 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Seth Jones' time in Chicago coming to an end after latest comments |
|
7 hours ago | By Tom Banks NHL Goaltender Expresses Disgust With the State of Hockey in Major Statement |
|
9 hours ago | By Graham Montgomery Meredith Gaudreau shares heartwarming message after tribute at Four Nations faceoff with Team USA |
|
22 hours ago | By Tom Banks NHL Insider Gives Update On Brock Boeser in Vancouver: Teams Aren't Close To An Extension |
Previously on HouseOfHockey