Maple Leafs Potential Playoff Opponent Lose Crucial Trade Deadline Acquisition
Photo credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
The Tampa Bay Lightning lost a key acquisition to a potential season-changing injury that may put his status in jeopardy if Tampa were to face Toronto in Round Two.
As the Maple Leafs head into a likely Battle of Ontario versus the Ottawa Senators, it will be a battle of the Sunshine State squads as Florida and Tampa Bay are looking to square off.
It's the best case scenario for Toronto as they can let the two powerhouses wail on each other for a potential seven games, meanwhile have a tough but very manageable series with Ottawa, and if they can keep the pace they've been currently on; it's going to be a quick series in Toronto's favor.
They also get to potentially take advantage of a huge problem for Tampa Bay, who are dealing with a potential worst-case scenario as it was announced that trade deadline acquisition Oliver Bjorkstrand would be out week-to-week with an injury, putting his playoff status in serious jeopardy.
Bjorkstrand suffered the injury during Sunday's game against Buffalo, and there is no definitive timeline for his return to the team.
It's a huge blow to Tampa's playoff hopes, as he was their key trade deadline acquisition alongside Yanni Gourde, and had put in a solid season with the Lightning before going down with injury.
Playing 18 games since being traded, he put up nine points (5G, 4A) with 11 blocks, 13 hits and a plus-3 rating in 14:03 TOI.
While the injury isn't as gamebreaking as one to Nikita Kucherov or Andrei Vasilevskiy, it's still going to make Tampa's playoff journey a lot more difficult, especially given that Florida is expected to have Matthew Tkachuk and Aaron Ekblad back in the first round.
Before coming over to Tampa, Bjorkstrand spent seven seasons with Columbus where he put up 234 points in 382 games (111G, 123A) before being traded to Seattle in 2022; he as drafted 89th overall in 2013 by the Blue Jackets.
It's never a good thing to see a player go down injured, especially during playoff time (something the Maple Leafs know very well) and while it's truly unfortunate for the Lightning, if Toronto faces them Round Two, it does make their job a lot easier.
All the best wishes for a smooth recovery for Oliver Bjorkstrand, because his return could be a huge factor in Tampa Bay making a Stanley Cup push.