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Cody Franson could be out for start of season (video)

By Catherine Silverman

Sep 28, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Buffalo Sabres forward Torrey Mitchell (17) checks on Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson (4) after he goes down heavily following a hit in the third period at Air Canada Centre. Maple Leafs won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Buffalo Sabres forward Torrey Mitchell (17) checks on Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson (4) after he goes down heavily following a hit in the third period at Air Canada Centre. Maple Leafs won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have seemed powerless as they watch crucial player after crucial player join the growing lineup of injuries this pre-season.

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David Clarkson, who might have the least severe injury of them all, is walking around with an enormous black eye. He’ll be needing surgery for other facial injuries, as well, due to a fight with Cody McCormick. Henrik Tallinder, a veteran defenseman who was invited to a training camp tryout with the Leafs, has suffered a separated shoulder.

Then, there’s the one-two bang of David Booth and Cody Franson, who both left last night’s preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres with lower body injuries.

Of the two, Franson’s looked particularly nasty. Already suffering from a bruised foot after blocking a shot (the same injury, incidentally, which took Booth out of the game), Franson was then awkwardly checked into the boards.

Based on the video, it looks like he kind of slid into the wall like one of those penguins from Happy Feet, and then Buffalo’s Torrey Mitchell kind of kicked him-slash-slid into the boards alongside him. It definitely doesn’t look intentional, especially as Franson was already down when the check occured. Looked a little bit like the infamous “Krieder-gate” from the New York Rangers-Montreal Canadiens series this past spring, which saw Carey Price out for the remainder of the post-season.

Whether there should have been a penalty called or not, Cody Franson needed help off the ice. Toronto best be saying their prayers right about now.

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