Toronto Maple Leafs: Team Loses Center Depth to Concussion
The Toronto Maple Leafs took a hit to their center depth competition Wednesday when Sheldon Keefe relayed to the media that Dylan Gambrell had sustained a concussion in practice and will be out for the foreseeable future.
Gambrell and the Toronto Maple Leafs agreed on a one-way $775,000 contract just two days into free agency and it was expected that he was going to compete for the fourth line center role this upcoming season.
He was thought of as a potential penalty killing center as that was a role he served with the Senators quite often during the 2022-23 season.
The native of Washington State was originally a second round selection out of the University of Denver by the San Jose Sharks in 2016.
After five seasons without finding a steady role on the Sharks roster he was traded at the start of the 2021-22 season to the Ottawa Senators and found a spot on their team for the next two years.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Team Loses Center Depth to Concussion
In his two seasons in Ottawa, Gambrell played a combined 123 NHL games which helped earn him a one-way deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The chances were not great for him to crack the season opening roster as he was competing against the likes of Sam Lafferty and Pontus Holmberg for the fourth line center role, but the odds got even slimmer with William Nylander’s move down the middle.
The transition for Nylander to center, would put David Kämpf, who is a lock for one of the center roles, down to that fourth line role.
It was likely that Gambrell was going to be placed on waivers after training camp with the hopes that he would start the season with the Marlies and be insurance in case of an injury (or trade). Unfortunately for Gambrell, he will now have a late start to his season as Keefe’s comments appear as though the six foot center will be out long term.
Another Player Will Be Added to the Long Term Injured Reserve List
No player can be moved down to the minors if they sustain an injury with the NHL team, so the Maple Leafs will need to place Gambrell on the Long Term Injured Reserve List where he will join both Matt Murray and Jake Muzzin who are expected to remain there for the entirety of the season.
You never want to see any player go down with an injury, especially a concussion so here is hoping the 27-year old can have a smooth and quick return.
