One of the newest Maple Leafs is going to miss extended time.
Forward Ryan O’Reilly, who was acquired at the deadline by Toronto, has been placed on long-term injured reserve after he left the Maple Leafs’ game on Saturday, March 4 with an upper-body injury.
“When you get him, you get excited and you see what he can bring so to lose him is tough and disappointing,” Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “We’ve acquired him to be healthy (and) ready to go for the playoffs and that will be the case.”
O’Reilly was one of six new additions the club brought in ahead of the March 3 trade deadline. Kyle Dubas traded a package that included a first-round pick to the Blues for the services of the 2019 Stanley Cup champion, as well as forward Noel Acciari.
The 32-year-old has five points in eight games with Toronto since the trade, including a hat trick against the Sabres on Feb. 21
MORE: Bruins, Hurricanes lead the post-trade deadline NHL power rankings
The Sporting News has all the injury updates on O’Reilly and when he could potentially return.
What is Ryan O’Reilly’s injury?
O’Reilly was injured in the final minute of the second period during the Maple Leafs’ 4-1 loss to the Canucks on March 4.
He got in the way of a shot from teammate Auston Matthews, taking the puck directly off the hand. He left the game and did not return.
Ryan O’Reilly took a shot off the hand pic.twitter.com/qOm1UjfgJI
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 5, 2023
The forward was seen after the game with a splint on a finger on his left hand.
ROR … look at left hand. Not good. pic.twitter.com/cCMpYXx88q
— Michael / მიხო (@ovie08) March 5, 2023
Keefe confirmed on March 6 that O’Reilly suffered a broken finger and would be placed on long-term injured reserve.
Sheldon Keefe says Ryan O’Reilly has a broken finger and is going on LTIR
Leafs expect him back before the playoffs @TSN_Edge
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) March 6, 2023
Keefe then said on March 7 that O’Reilly underwent successful surgery on his finger.
Ryan O’Reilly had successful surgery on his finger this morning per Sheldon Keefe. His timeline to return is four weeks.
— Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) March 7, 2023
When will Ryan O’Reilly return?
A timeline for O’Reilly’s return is set at four weeks after his surgery for his broken finger.
Four weeks puts a potential return on April 4, which would mean the Maple Leafs would have him back before the end of the regular season.
O’Reilly was placed on long-term injured reserve. When a player goes on LTIR, they must miss 10 games, as well as 24 days in the season, before they are eligible to return.
That means the earliest that O’Reilly could come off LTIR is March 29. However, it does not appear as though the Maple Leafs expect him to be back when he is eligible to be removed from LTIR.
Ryan O’Reilly stats 2022-23
O’Reilly has been a strong addition to the Maple Leafs. In eight games with the team, he has recorded three goals and two assists, playing in a variety of roles.
He’s up to 15 goals and 24 points this season.
| Team | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blues | 40 | 12 | 7 | 19 | -24 |
| Maple Leafs | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Total | 48 | 15 | 9 | 24 | -23 |