In Tuesday night's game against the Florida Panthers, the 40-year-old defenseman exited with an "upper body injury." Giordano has contributed one goal and five points in 19 games this season, marking his third campaign with the Leafs.
This adds to the Leafs' defensive woes, with John Klingberg and Timothy Liljegren already sidelined. Speculation surrounds Klingberg's future with the team, while Liljegren remains out for weeks due to a lower body injury from a hit by Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand.
With Giordano, Klingberg, and Liljegren facing prolonged absences, the Leafs' defensive lineup has been significantly depleted. While Morgan Rielly, TJ Brodie, and Jake McCabe provide stability, lesser-known names like Lajoie, Simon Benoit, and Conor Timmins will need to step up.
Coach Keefe is likely to heavily rely on the top pairing of Rielly and Brodie, managing their ice time until the return of Liljegren and/or Giordano. Benoit and McCabe are poised to form the second defense pairing, while Lajoie and Timmins are anticipated to handle third pairing duties.