Uh oh.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have enjoyed almost perfect health this season. That may soon change in a big way.
The club lost one of its most important players Tuesday, as Morgan Rielly was ruled out prior to the start of the second period against the Buffalo Sabres with a lower-body injury. He hurt his right leg on a collision in the first frame, William Carrier's weight coming down on it before the Toronto defender went awkwardly into the boards.
It doesn't look good.
Rielly leads the Maple Leafs in ice time, averaging 22:51 per game, and is second on the team in scoring among defensemen with 17 points. He's one half of the top pair on the blue line with Nikita Zaitsev.
Only 22, Rielly's taken on a leadership role in addition to his exploits on the ice with the young Toronto squad, and wears an "A" on his sweater. His loss, for any period of time, will be a massive one for Toronto to overcome.
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