Interesting development during the first period of the Toronto Maple Leafs game against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
P.A. Parenteau, 32, left the ice during the opening period, naturally setting off a reaction on Twitter because the veteran Leafs forward is a trade target leading up to the deadline. But based on reports, this situation is more about a possible injury than the possibility of a mid-game trade.
That said, in terms of trying to protect an asset for a potential deal with the deadline less than 48 hours away, it doesn’t benefit the Leafs to have Parenteau return to this game if he’s able.
#mapleleafs PA Parenteau is getting treatments. Not related to a trade.
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) February 28, 2016
Parenteau left practice yesterday with what he described as "soreness" and is now in the dressing room. No idea why he's playing tonight
— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) February 28, 2016
Update: As per James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail, Parenteau will not return to this game due to an upper-body injury.