Yahoo Sports 'That's A Tough One Still': Maple Leafs' Craig Berube Provides Update On Injured Forward Calle Jarnkrok
Calle Jarnkrok took the ice for a brief period of time before the Toronto Maple Leafs hit the ice at Ford Performance Centre for their practice on Monday.
Out all season thus far with a sports hernia injury, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was asked if there was any clarity on when they may expect the veteran forward back.
"Well, you know, timeline, that's a tough one still. I think he's a ways away, but he's progressing in the right direction, kind of skating a little bit now, which is a good sign," Berube said on Tuesday. "We'll see how it goes here, I'd say, in the next two weeks, and then we'd have more definitive timeline."
Craig Berube says Calle Jarnkrok is still a ways a way from returning from a sports hernia, skated for a bit yesterday. Berube says in two weeks they will have a better idea where he is at. @BodogCA
— David Alter (@dalter) January 14, 2025
Jarnkrok missed much of training camp with what said by the Leafs at the time to be lower-body issue. He was in and out preseason action as he tried to manage the problem. He played in two preseason games, but did not register any points.
Before the season began the Leafs placed Jarnkrok placed on long-term injured reserve where he remains. In November the Leafs confirmed that Jarnkrok went to see a specialist in New York and had sports hernia surgery, listing his timeline to a return as "month-to-month."
The 33-year-old is in the third year of a four-year contract that carries an annual salary cap hit of $2.1 million. If Jarnkrok returns before the end of the regular season, the Leafs will need clear up some cap space to accommodate the player's full cap hit, unless other injuries pile up within the team or the club makes other roster moves.
A fully healthy Jarnkrok would be a useful add, given the players versatility and defensive play. But given his age and the type of injury, a sports hernia could have long-term effects on his career. It is possible that he may be more susceptible to similar injuries in the future, or that his overall performance could be affected. The Leafs will need to carefully manage his workload and monitor his progress to ensure his long-term health and effectiveness.
Jarnkrok has 136 goals and 165 assists in 699 NHL games.
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