Maple Leafs Lose Another Forward After Scary Collision Causes Injury

It seems the Maple Leafs' early run-ins with the injury bug aren't letting up anytime soon.

After already losing Chris Tanev, Scott Laughton and William Nylander, Toronto's depth has taken yet another hit, this time with veteran forward Steven Lorentz going down with an injury after crashing hard into the boards, seemingly head-first.

The play itself looked broken from the start, ending with Lorentz barreling uncontrollably toward the wall before heading straight to the dressing room.

Based on the impact alone, it would be unsurprising if he were to miss more than just the rest of this game, but needless to say, the Leafs have confirmed that he will not return for the 3rd period.

It's no secret that the Maple Leafs can't afford to lose anyone else right now. While losing star players like Nylander hurts, losing reliable depth pieces like Lorentz can be just as damaging in the long run.

He's been one of those quietly steady forwards who brings consistent, responsible minutes -- not flashy, but dependable, the kind of player every team needs in the middle of the lineup.

And with Laughton already sidelined without a clear return window, Toronto's depth is starting to look alarmingly thin.

What's especially interesting is how different this season feels compared to previous years. The Leafs have dealt with injuries before, but not at this volume, this early. Some might wonder if Craig Berube's demanding, physical coaching style could be playing a role.

His no-nonsense system pushes players to finish every check and play hard every shift, and while it's helped set a tougher tone, it might also be putting more players in harm's way.

Lorentz has fully bought into that system, playing hard, fast, and aggressive, exactly the way Berube wants. But now, with him likely joining the growing list of injured Leafs, Toronto's situation becomes even more dire.

For a team already struggling to find consistency, losing another key depth forward might just be one more hit they can't afford to take.