BY LOUIS JEAN
sportsnet.ca
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without captain Dion Phaneuf for the next four to six weeks after the 25-year-old defenceman underwent surgery to repair a laceration on his left leg.
Phaneuf was injured in the second period of Tuesday's 3-2 loss to Ottawa when he got tangled up awkwardly with Senators forward Peter Regin.
"He's been real solid in our end, he's been a punishing physical player," Leafs GM Brian Burke said. "The offence hasn't materialized for him yet but that's kind of a group disease right now as far as scoring ability. That's a hard guy to replace and we'll need people to step up."
Since taking over as general manager of the Maple Leafs, Burke has made it a priority to solidify the defence. He signed Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin giving the team plenty of depth on the blue line.
"[Phaneuf's injury is] a huge loss for the team. He's a leader on and off the ice. He's a huge part of our back end and our team and he's going to be missed. But it's up for all the other guys to step up their game" said Mike Komisarek.
Komisarek and Beauchemin's ice time will likely go up considerably in Phaneuf's absence. Although he celebrated his 21st birthday on Tuesday, Luke Schenn has been very reliable this season for Toronto. He too could have an increased role starting Wednesday night against the Washington Capitals.
"We're playing a strong offensive minded team in Washington and we're going to have to be aware of when the guys are on the ice" Schenn explained before the game.
The Maple Leafs recalled Korbinian Holzer from the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. Brett Lebda is expected to fill in for Phaneuf however a final decision won't be made until game time.
Although losing Phaneuf for any period of time is not ideal, things could have been much worse. The cut was reportedly near his ACL.
"It could have been a lot worse. It's a fluke injury. No intent on the Ottawa player obviously but it was very close," Burke explained to a group of reporters at the Verizon Center.
