Crucial update on Leafs' Carl Dahlstrom

The Toronto Maple Leafs have not been able to ice a full blue line in quite some time thanks to the absences of Jake Muzzin (out indefinitely with a cervical spine issue) and Victor Mete (lower-body injury) along with Morgan Rielly (MCL sprain); Rielly recently returned to action while Muzzin and Mete remain out. 

Another member of the blue line who has been absent for much of the season is Carl Dahlstrom, who underwent shoulder surgery in October. He originally suffered the injury during a preseason matchup against the Original 6 rival Montreal Canadiens after being cross-checked by Montreal's Rem Pitlick in the first period of their September 28 game.

He's been back on the ice during practice sessions working on his conditioning in order to get back to his full capacities before a return to action: 

"He’s a long ways away from entering into the equation but it’s certainly nice to see," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said.

"You started to get pretty deep into the pool of players at the AHL level and he was going to be one of our first call-ups and did a good job for us last season," Keefe said. "But it was a good chance for others to step up and all of a sudden between the [Filip] Krals and [Mac] Hollowells you give them some experience that helps us down the line."

"I think he’s progressing well and in good spirits and all that stuff and hopefully he’ll become an option for us at some point."

Dahlstrom is in the midst of a one-year, two-way contract that sees him carry a cap hit of 750,000 at the NHL level and $400,000 at the AHL level. 

The Leafs are back in action tonight at Scotiabank Arena in downtown Toronto against the visiting St. Louis Blues. Game time is set for 7:00 PM EST.