Maple Leafs place center on IR

Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann is heading to injured reserve with a lingering undisclosed injury, head coach Sheldon Keefe said Friday (via Joshua Kloke of The Athletic). 

The move keeps McMann with the team for the time being after speculation earlier Friday that he was headed for waivers. In placing him on IR, Toronto has now opened a roster spot to activate winger Tyler Bertuzzi from the non-roster list for Saturday’s game against the Jets.

McMann, 27, has two goals and five assists for seven points in 23 games. He’s averaged 9:22 per contest and is putting up passable possession numbers, recording a 49.4% Corsi share at even strength despite starting nearly 70% of his zone starts coming in defensive usage.

Undrafted, Toronto signed McMann to his first NHL contract in 2022 after he spent two seasons suiting up with their AHL affiliate on minor league deals. He’s transitioned into more of a full-time NHL role this season, skating in only six AHL contests.

McMann played in 19 of Toronto’s last 21 games as a fourth-line fill-in, providing a noticeable two-way upgrade on the services of injured enforcer Ryan Reaves. 

He missed one game earlier in January against the Red Wings with an undisclosed injury and was listed as a healthy scratch in Sunday’s game against the Kraken.

The IR placement rules McMann out of tomorrow’s game but no further. It coincides well with the timing of the All-Star break, during which his seven-day absence requirement will be satisfied. 

If he’s healthy, he’ll be eligible to return for the Maple Leafs’ first post-break game against the Islanders on Feb. 5.