Maple Leafs’ Dahlstrom out six months, Benn to miss three weeks

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Erik Kallgren (50) looks on as teammate Carl Dahlstrom (48) and Winnipeg Jets centre Mason Appleton (22) vie for control of the puck beside the crease during second period NHL hockey action in Toronto, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Frank Gunn/CP)

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without two more defencemen when the NHL season rolls around on Oct. 12.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe announced Friday that Carl Dahlstrom will be out six months due to shoulder surgery, while Jordie Benn will miss a minimum of three weeks with a groin injury. Both players were hurt on Wednesday night when the Maple Leafs played the Montreal Canadiens in pre-season action.

With both defencemen gone, forwards Calle Jarnkrok and Alexander Kerfoot took shifts on the blue line during that game.

Toronto’s defence corps was already without Timothy Liljegren, who’s out due to hernia surgery. The club was also without Rasmus Sandin, who was in a contract holdout, until he signed a two-year, $2.8-million contract Thursday in light of the Maple Leafs’ need for help on the blue line.

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