Matt Hunwick News

Hunwick has been a healthy scratch for the last 13 games but will replace Lawrence Pilut on Tuesday. It will be Hunwick’s first game since December 18th and just third NHL game of the season.

Hunwick has been sidelined by a concussion since October 14th, but will draw back into the lineup tonight vs. the Blackhawks. Hunwick will likely replace Chad Ruhwedel in the lineup and comes in with just one goal in six games this season.

The Penguins are in the middle of a five-game road trip and head coach Mike Sullivan said that Hunwick is skating back in Pittsburgh and they haven’t ruled out that he could join the team in Western Canada. With Hunwick and Justin Schultz out, Chad Ruhwedel and Zach Trotman will remain in the lineup.

There has been no word on what is ailing Hunwick or when he suffered the injury, but this move likely means that Ian Cole (mouth) will draw back into the lineup on Tuesday. Cole was cleared to play but remained a game-time decision, but Hunwick’s injury likely necessitates re-inserting Cole.

After struggling offensively for years, Hunwick managed to post 19 points (1G / 18A) in in 72 games with the Maple Leafs a season ago. Hunwick will help replace Trevor Daley, who left for Detroit in free agency and should be third pairing defenseman.

Hunwick has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury that he suffered last Tuesday. Hunwick has been placed on IR, but is eligible to be activated whenever he is healthy. His movement to IR allows the Maple Leafs to recall another player.

Hunwick will miss his second straight game with a lower-body injury. Hunwick has had a tough start to the season, so his injury gives the Maple Leafs a chance to look at some of their other defensemen.

Hunwick has one assist in six games, but will not play vs. the Panthers on Thursday. This might not be a bad thing for Toronto, because Hunwick is coming off a rough night vs. the Lightning. Consider him day-to-day.

Hunwick only played 2:11 in the Maple Leafs’ opener after being crushed by Senators’ forward Chris Neil in the first period. Hunwick’s face was cut on the hit and he never returned to the game. He was in practice on Friday and said he was good-to-go, but head coach Mike Babcock said that they will see where Hunwick is at on Saturday.

Hunwick will undergo season-ending sports hernia surgery that he originally suffered in mid-February. The recovery period is expected to be 10 weeks, which will wrap Hunwick’s season up with 10 points (2G / 8A) and a minus-17 rating in 60 games. With Hunwick out, the Maple Leafs have recalled Viktor Loov from Toronto (AHL).