Maple Leafs to place Giordano on IR with head injury

The Toronto Maple Leafs will place defenseman Mark Giordano on injured reserve due to a head injury sustained in Thursday's win over the Arizona Coyotes, general manager Brad Treliving announced, according to TSN's Mark Masters.

A recovery timeline is unclear. Giordano was helped off the ice after crashing hard into the boards and didn't return to Thursday's contest.

Giordano has appeared in 38 games this season, primarily in a bottom-pairing role. He's managed one goal and six assists while averaging 16 minutes per night.

The 40-year-old is an unrestricted free agent this summer upon the expiry of a two-year, $1.6-million deal signed in 2022.

Toronto acted swiftly to shore up its defensive depth, acquiring Ilya Lyubushkin from the Anaheim Ducks following the contest. The Maple Leafs are expected to continue shopping for blue-liners before the March 8 trade deadline.