from Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star,

What happens if Ryan O’Reilly is really hurt? Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said an update could come Monday, when the team practises in New Jersey. He didn’t look thrilled.

Because O’Reilly’s status being up in the air has an uneasy similarity to, say, Nick Foligno, another veteran sandpaper star whom the Leafs acquired at the deadline some years ago, and who hurt his back three days in and was never the same player with Toronto as they missed their best chance ever to advance in the playoffs. That was the year they played in the Canadian Division, got Montreal in the first round, went up 3-1 in the series, outshot the Canadiens 13-2 in overtime in Game 6, and lost in Game 7. Maybe a healthy Foligno gets you through, instead of producing one assist in four playoff games. Toronto never got the chance to find out.

O’Reilly had been with the Leafs for a little over two weeks when Auston Matthews loaded up and blasted a slapshot Saturday night in Vancouver that hit O’Reilly; he shook his hand in pain, left the game, didn’t come back. The team didn’t update his status. He was just gone.

Maybe it’s a bruise and nothing more. But until the update comes it’s a worry, because O’Reilly is the jewel of the frantic Leafs trade deadline haul.

continued