Ryan O'Reilly undergoes successful surgery, expected to return in four weeks

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan O'Reilly underwent successful surgery to stabilize a fractured finger in his left hand, which he suffered during a game against the Calgary Flames. The injury has landed him on long-term injured reserve and he is expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks.

Ryan O'Reilly was acquired by the Leafs along with forward Noel Acciari in a three-team trade that also involved the Minnesota Wild. In exchange, the Blues received the Maple Leafs' 2023 first-round pick, the Ottawa Senators' 2023 third-round pick, the Maple Leafs' 2024 second-round pick, forward Adam Gaudette, and prospect Mikhail Abramov. Toronto also received prospect Josh Pillar from the Wild, who got the Maple Leafs' 2025 fourth-round pick.

Despite only playing nine games with the team since being acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Blues, O'Reilly has already made an impact on the Leafs. Head coach Sheldon Keefe praised his versatility and the impact he has had on the team's success.

"Used him in different spots and you can see the impact he can have on our team." Said Keefe. "When you get him, you get excited and you know what he can bring so to lose him, certainly, is tough and disappointing, but we've acquired him to be healthy and ready to go for the playoffs and that will be the case.

Keefe continued:

So, to that end, you know, it's not bad in terms of what the bigger picture is. And, with the nature of the injury, he won't miss much time actually on the ice and skating."

In his short time with the Maple Leafs, Ryan O'Reilly has shown why he is such a coveted player. He has three goals and two assists in nine games, and his two-way play and leadership have already made a difference on the ice.

Ryan O'Reilly's loss will be a blow to the Leafs, who are currently fighting for a playoff spot in the competitive Northern Division. However, Keefe and the team are focused on the bigger picture and ensuring that O'Reilly is healthy and ready to contribute when the playoffs roll around.

Leafs will miss John Tavares in addition to Ryan O'Reilly

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without two of their key players for their upcoming games. Captain John Tavares will miss Tuesday's game against the New Jersey Devils as a precautionary measure, while Ryan O'Reilly is on long-term injured reserve with a fractured finger.

Tavares, who participated in the team's practice on Monday as an extra forward, is feeling better but will sit out for precautionary reasons. The 32-year-old center has been a vital part of the Leafs' success this season, tallying 28 goals and 62 points in 63 games.

With John Tavares and Ryan O'Reilly out, the Leafs will need other players to step up and fill the void. The team will rely on their depth and secondary scoring to continue their push for a playoff spot in the competitive Northern Division.