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Maple Leafs place Andreas Johnsson on IR, recall three

Toronto Maple Leafs Andreas Johnsson during first period action against Colorado Avalanche T.J. Tynan at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Wednesday December 4, 2019. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun
Toronto Maple Leafs Andreas Johnsson during first period action against Colorado Avalanche T.J. Tynan at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Wednesday December 4, 2019. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun

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The Maple Leafs have alleviated their salary cap problem, but in a most painful way.

The club announced Friday that a CT scan on left winger Andreas Johnsson revealed a leg issue that will keep him out until at least after Christmas. Johnsson blocked a shot in Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to Colorado. His cap hit is US$3.4 million this year.

Putting him on long term injured reserve does open up salary space to recall hot Marlie winger Pontus Aberg, who has 24 points in 22 games, and bring back winger Nic Petan and defenceman Martin Marincin, both demoted when Mitch Marner ended his stint on IR Wednesday morning.

Toronto faced the possibility of going out on a four-game road trip that starts Saturday in St. Louis without any reserve players, a consequence of the big Marner signing in September on top of expensive deals for Auston Matthews, John Tavares and William Nylander. Johnsson will be reassessed after Christmas.

Johnsson has 16 points in 30 games, mostly with Matthews and Nylander. Aberg, a former second round pick of Nashville, is 26, with 127 NHL games with the Predators, Oilers, Ducks and Wild. He was one of the many Leafs signed this summer to minimum wage contracts and assigned to the Marlies.

The Leafs resume practice Friday after back-to-back losses brought their record under new coach Sheldon Keefe to 4-3.

Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019

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