The Toronto Maple Leafs' quest for the Stanley Cup has hit a speed bump after Ryan O'Reilly suffered a broken finger on Saturday night. The center was acquired to be the missing piece for the team's championship run, but his injury has raised concerns about his ability to contribute when it matters most. In this article, we'll take a closer look at O'Reilly's injury, its impact on the team, and his expected timeline to return.
Initially, the Maple Leafs were tight-lipped about the extent of O'Reilly's injury, leading to speculation about the seriousness of his condition. However, according to Joshua Kloke of The Athletic, the injury was worse than what was originally stated, and O'Reilly underwent successful surgery to repair his finger. While the team has not provided many details, his timeline to return is expected to be four weeks.
If all goes well, O'Reilly should be back on the ice by early April, which is approximately a week before the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs. While missing four weeks of the regular season is significant, the team is optimistic that O'Reilly will be able to fully recover in time for the playoffs. Last year, Nazem Kadri returned from a similar injury after just 11 days, which gives hope to the Maple Leafs that O'Reilly will be able to do the same.
