Maple Leafs D Mark Fraser will miss at least 10 games

Staff report

Maple Leafs D Mark Fraser will miss at least 10 games image

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be out without defensemen Mark Fraser for an extended period because of a knee injury. Fraser was placed on long-term injured reserve on Friday, which means he will be out a minimum of 10 games.

Fraser suffered the injury during the team's 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night when he was hit by the Flyers' Jay Rosehill during a third-period scrum that followed a high-sticking minor called on Fraser.

After Fraser served the penalty, he didn't return to the game.

The Maple Leafs will turn to rookie Morgan Rielly, 19, to replace Fraser. Rielly, the fifth overall pick of the 2012 draft, will make his NHL debut Saturday against the Ottawa Senators after being scratched from the first two games.

The Maple Leafs are eager to find out what the prize rookie can do at the highest level.

"He's a strong puck-mover, he can get the puck through on the point on the power play, he's got great wheels to get up and down the ice and he's smart in his reads," coach Randy Carlyle told The Globe and Mail. "I don't know what more I can say that doesn't put an exclamation point on the type of player he is." 

Rielly made the Leafs out of training camp but may be on the roster for only nine games. That's the amount permitted a junior-eligible player before a team has to decide whether to keep him for the season or return him to junior hockey.

Forward Jamie Devane was called up from the Leafs' farm team for Friday's practice and could be in the lineup on Saturday, The Globe and Mail reported.

Staff report