Craig Berube Finally Breaks Silence on Maple Leafs Forward's Injury After Months of Mystery
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been without one key contributor since the season began, and head coach Craig Berube has finally revealed a massive update.
Since the beginning of the season, Calle Jarnkrok has been out with a groin injury that seemed at one point to be career-threatening. He's slowly trying to make his way back to game form, but is still a ways away without a real definitive timeline.
Toronto could have certainly used him this year and he would have been a great player to solidify their third line center position, and perhaps prevent the inconsistencies and lack of production.
There's always the potential that he returns for the playoffs, and it would help Toronto's cap situation as well.
But now head coach Craig Berube has opened up and finally given fans a better idea of when they can expect him back even if it's not set in stone.
Craig Berube's Update Gives Fans Glimmer Of Hope
Speaking to the media ahead of Toronto's game against the Dallas Stars, Berube touched on Jarnkrok's return but wasn't going to definitively say he knows the date:
He's a ways away, but he is progressing in the right direction, skating a little bit now, which is a good sign.
We'll see how it goes here in the next two weeks and then we'd have more of a definitive timeline."
Still being a ways away isn't necessarily the news that fans want to hear, nut given that Berube has given end of January as a timeline for him to have a better idea is a good sign.
It's a positive because February offers Toronto a lot of leeway when it comes to the schedule.
They have 13 days off due to the 4 Nations Face-Off, and that's essentially another two weeks of recovery and reps for Jarnkrok while all teams are off.
It's perfect timing too because Toronto is more than likely going to make a trade come March 7, but if Jarnkrok can come back healthy and provide the third line center the Leafs need, it makes Brad Treliving's job easier regarding who he should go after.
Jarnkrok was solid last season in a third line role for Toronto and his absence is greatly missed.
He had 10 goals and 11 assists and provided great defense and penalty killing.
Two seasons however he exploded for 20 goals and 39 points, proving that not only can he provide a full 200-foot game, but his scoring potential is levels beyond anyone's expectations.
Calle Jarnkrok is still weeks and potentially a month or so away from returning, but he could be the hero Toronto needs and impact the rest of the regular season and beyond.
