Masters: Ryan O'Reilly ‘getting close’ to returning to Leafs lineup ahead of playoffs | TSN
Maple Leafs centre Ryan O'Reilly participated in his first practice on Friday since breaking the index finger on his left hand on March 4. The 32-year-old says he does anticipate getting into a few games before the playoffs. Mark Masters has more.
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Ryan O'Reilly participated in his first practice since breaking the index finger on his left hand on March 4.
"It feels good," the 32-year-old centre said. "We're progressing. It's not 100 per cent yet and we got to be smart. The goal is to be 100 per cent for the playoffs so being smart with that. It was nice to get out there and skate with the guys. We're getting close."
"It's a big step for him," said head coach Sheldon Keefe. "It's nice to have him with the group. Obviously it brings a lot with his energy and personality. And then, of course, it helps us fill some of the gaps. When you're injured you miss some things and especially for a new guy coming in there's some things that you're covering that he's not up to speed on as much."
O'Reilly skated on the fourth line while wearing a no-contact sweater.
"Shooting and passing feels great," he said. "It's just the other stuff and the stick battles and all that and just being able to trust it and be 100 per cent strong in that. It's going to come. It is progressing. I feel like I could push it harder, but there's no point. Like, we just have to be smart with it and make sure it heals the right way and that will help me down the road."
"He's feeling really good," Keefe said. "It's just a matter of the doctors being satisfied and making sure we're minimizing risk as much as we can."
After being traded to Toronto from the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 17, O'Reilly played eight games before being felled by an Auston Matthews shot in Vancouver.
"I saw it was crooked and I kind of knew it wasn't good," O'Reilly recalled of the injury. "I was really disappointed, but I'm here for playoffs so that's all that really matters."
After undergoing surgery on March 7, O'Reilly was told the timeline for his return would be four to six weeks. This coming Tuesday will be the four-week mark, but O'Reilly says there is no target date for his return yet. He does anticipate getting into a few games before the playoffs.
