The Silvertips will be without a key forward for a while as winger Dawson Leedahl has been ruled out for an extended period because of a knee injury.
The 18-year-old Leedahl suffered the injury to his right knee while delivering a hit during Saturday’s 3-2 overtime victory at Spokane. Leedahl struggled to get back to the bench after the hit and did not return to the game.
The full severity of the injury is yet to be determined — Leedahl underwent an MRI on Tuesday and the team was still awaiting results — but it’s not good. The best-case scenario for Leedahl and the Tips is that he misses four-to-six weeks. The worst-case scenario has Leedahl needing surgery and being out four-to-six months.
This is a serious blow for Everett. Leedahl is the type of player whose value to the team can’t be judged based on his numbers (one goal and three assists in nine games). He’s a key component on the line typically charged with shutting down the opposition’s top line, and he’s one of Everett’s top penalty-killing forwards. His absence will be felt.
The injury coincides with the trade of winger Tyler Sandhu to Red Deer, meaning Everett is now down to 12 available forwards. This comes just as Everett begins playing a normal WHL schedule — Everett’s first weeknight game of the season is Wednesday at home against Spokane — instead of playing just on the weekends. This means we’ll be seeing a lot more of Gunnar Wegleitner, Nik Malenica will probably receive his WHL debut soon, and the Tips may even start using a defenseman at forward on occasion.
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