The Maple Leafs could be without one of their more industrious forwards on Saturday.
Jarnkrok’s participation in Winnipeg against the Jets on Saturday in the Leafs’ last game before the National Hockey League all-star break was thrown into doubt.
“There is concern there for sure,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “We won’t know the extent of it until we give it a chance to settle down a little bit and get it looked at.”
As such, Keefe could not say whether Jarnkrok would travel Friday afternoon with the team.
Jarnkrok is one of six Leafs to play in all 46 of the team’s games in 2023-24 and has been a consistent contributor on the third line with 10 goals and nine assists. He’s also a dependable member of the penalty-killing units.
Tyler Bertuzzi was back on the second line with captain John Tavares and William Nylander after missing the Leafs’ 1-0 overtime win against the Jets to be with his wife for the birth of their son.
With Bertuzzi returning, the Leafs had to make a roster move. Bobby McMann will go on injured reserve, Keefe said, because of an undisclosed injury.
“We had hoped it was going to improve over time, but it’s lingered enough that it was determined that extending his break would be helpful for him, so he’ll going on IR,” Keefe said. “We’re adding a few extra days — yesterday, today and tomorrow off the ice — to his break and hopeful that when we come back, he’ll be past this.”